KABUL - “Hello and good evening. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate.”

The words of television journalist Mujahid Kakar as he opened Afghanistan’s first ever televised presidential debate last night.

Presidential candidates Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai debated for two hours standing up from behind two podiums.

Incumbent President Hamid Karzai declined an invitation for the debate and as a result a podium for him was left empty in the centre of the television studio hosting the candidates.

Dr Abdullah, a former foreign minister, and Dr Ghani, a former finance minister, two of the leading challengers for the presidency, comfortably answered questions in the two main languages of Afghanistan, Dari and Pashto.

The programme kicked off with one of the most controversial issues facing the region, the border known as the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tolo TV, one of Afghanistan’s leading broadcasters, showed the debate live in primetime from 8pm-10pm on a Thursday night, the start of the weekend in Afghanistan.

The debate was broadcast on the two television stations and one radio station which Tolo owns.

For security reasons the street leading to the studio was totally cleared of any other vehicles and security was tight.

Inside the broadcaster invited guests of journalists, businessmen and others watched the debate on large plasma TV screens.

There was still hope among some that President Karzai would show up at the last minute, though the lack of presidential security on the streets around the TV station clearly showed he wouldn’t be coming.

One Afghan journalist said: “The debate has lost its attraction without Karzai.”

But all admitted that the programme, a first ever in Afghanistan, was a historic event.

At the popular Herat restaurant in the centre of Kabul, a number of Afghans took in their evening meal of meat, rice and bread whilst watching the debate.

Amongst the busy bakeries, ice cream, fruit juice and meat kebab stalls a few televisions were switched on with people watching the live programme.

Speaking this morning after the debate the TV host Mujahid Kakar said: “I’ve had several phone calls this morning from people across the country. One viewer said he received answers to the questions he had in his own head. He didn’t believe he’d ever see two candidates talking about poor and starving people.”

Mr Kakar added: “At least we have done something for our country and our people by asking the questions in the mind of every Afghan.”

"These debates signify an exciting and historic moment in the development of democracy in Afghanistan, and symbolize what we have all been working for here. Everything should be done to encourage open and vigorous exchanges across Afghanistan on the merits of the candidates and their positions on the critical issues facing this country," said Norine Macdonald in Kabul from the think-tank the International Council on Security and Development.

There are less than four weeks to go now until the presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August with 41 presidential hopefuls and more than 3,000 candidates for the councils.

By Dominic Medley, UNAMA