17 August 2009 - In a country where regime change has often been violent the appearance of incumbent President Hamid Karzai in a live televised debate must have come as a surprise to many Afghans.

Last night the country tuned in to Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani and Ramazan Bashardost debate the issues of the campaign, although the other leading contender Abdullah Abdullah was absent.

The debate on the national broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan was also aired on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Afghan service Radio Azadi (Radio Free Afghanistan)

Some two hundred invited people, a mixture of journalists and supporters, joined the candidates at Radio Afghanistan as the three debaters walked into the main conference hall.

Four main questions including security, internal and external affairs and a few personal questions were asked with the debate running in two parts before and after the evening prayer.

There were few surprises in the debate except for an announcement by the incumbent President Karzai who said he would call for a Loya Jirga for reconciliation between Afghans if he was elected.

“A Jirga for national reconciliation between Afghans… in which all Afghans will be represented and the Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami will be invited,” he said.

Although he did add that the Jirga would exclude those who had “links with Al Qaeda and terrorism.”

President Karzai added that the ongoing Peace Jirga with Pakistan should continue so that there was a better “understanding” in the region.

On the issue of civilian casualties in Afghanistan Karzai confirmed some improvements on the matter: “Finally we arrived to a better result after long debates last year and fortunately this year there are less civilian losses”.

Dr Ghani emphasised “national consensus” and economic programmes with regard to his other plans if re-elected.

On security and peace Dr Bashardost proposed anti-corruption policies to bring peace.

”No killer of an innocent Taliban should be allowed to work in the governmental posts including governors, district chiefs etc,” he said. ”No briber who is receiving a salary in dollars should stay in position.”

He also asked all the debating candidates if the Taliban would really engage with them following the offer of peace talks.

On women’s rights in Afghanistan Dr Bashardost said he was clearly against seeing women as a “second sex”.

Dr Ghani said he wanted to recognize the “property rights” of women.

President Karzai said he wanted to continue with what he has done during his eight years rule with “better education… better health … more civil servants.”

Today is the last day of official campaigning for the presidential and provincial council elections which take place on Thursday, 20 August.

From 7 am on Tuesday morning a forty eight hour media blackout on campaign reporting begins.

The televised debate last night was probably the last chance for three of the four leading candidates to discuss the main issues of the campaign with each other and in front of a likely audience of several millions.

By Nilab Mobarez, UNAMA

Website: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty