Ghani pledged to hold parliamentary elections in 2016

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani promised on Tuesday to hold parliamentary and district council elections next year.

“Parliamentary and district council elections will be held between summer and autumn of the next year,” Ghani said in a statement, adding that the exact dates would be for the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) to announce.

Parliament’s five-year term expired on June 22 this year, but elections due in April were postponed because of disagreement on how to ensure a fair vote after a disputed presidential election last year.

President Ghani issued a decree in June this year, extending parliament’s mandate until a vote could be held.

As a part of a conciliation deal, Ghani and Abdullah agreed on a electoral reform as a condition for future elections but little progress has been made since rivals in unity government have long disagreed over who should lead the reform commission.

Afghanistan continue to be in the state of security, political, and social turmoil, which persists despite billions of dollars received in assistance since the US-led invasion in 2001.