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By Karen DeYoungand Tim Craig September 22 at 6:03 PM

In his long history of personal diplomacy in Afghanistan, Secretary of State John F. Kerry has repeatedly returned to his concession to George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential race, made amid Democratic allegations of Republican dirty tricks and voter suppression.

It was hard to do and many of my people were mad at me, Kerry told Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah last week, in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to accept a power-sharing arrangement under the presidency of his opponent, Ashraf Ghani . But it was the right thing to do for the country, Kerry said, according to a partial transcript of the conversation, which was provided by U.S. officials.

In 2009, while on a mission for President Obama, Kerry, then a senator, made the same case to Abdullah and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, when the incumbent refused to submit to a runoff between them and both sides charged fraud. Then, as now, Kerry reflected on the heartbreak of loss. Then, as now, he warned that the United States would find it difficult to continue supporting Afghanistan if agreement could not be reached.

Then, as now, Abdullah yielded.

In the wake of Sundays announcement that Abdullah would serve in the newly-created post of chief executive in a Ghani administration, there are lingering doubts in both countries about the viability of their partnership.

Arriving for his victory speech Monday in a school gymnasium not far from the presidential palace in Kabul, Ghani had already assumed presidential-style security. As supporters cheered, he walked to the front of the hall preceded by girls in colorful Afghan dresses tossing rose petals. A two-story high banner hung on the wall featured his photograph.

Abdullah and his supporters were absent from the celebration and the banner. An aide said Abdullah was traveling outside the capital on personal business.

But Ghani, in a 30-minute speech televised nationwide, repeatedly pledged to make the alliance work. Peace is our demand and, God willing, it will come, he said. I and Dr. Abdullah are committed to the commitments we have made before the people.

While many Ghani supporters at the event said the country was ready to put aside the protracted election dispute and rally behind both the new president and Abdullah, some remained skeptical.

Read more from the original source:
Finessing a power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan