US to withdraw financial support if candidates fail to strike a deal: John Kerry

United Nations special envoy in Kabul, Yan Kubish warned that if the two Afghan presidential contenders do not reach an agreement on formation of a government of national unity, Afghanistan will face crisis.

Kubish is said to consider the formation of a government of national unity the only way for Afghanistan and called on the two presidential candidates to save their country from crisis.

“If the two Afghan presidential contenders do not reach an agreement on formation of national unity government, new momentum and changes will form in the country.” Kubish added.

In the meantime, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ratcheted up the pressure on Afghanistan’s rival presidential contenders to reach a compromise on a national unity government, reminding them that Washington and the international community will withdraw financial support if they fail to strike a deal.

Kerry, who brokered an agreement last month committing the two Afghan candidates to accept the results of an internationally monitored recount, has taken a leading role in trying to resolve the standoff over the drawn-out election between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Ballots were first cast in April and again in a June runoff, but no winner has been decided amid contentious talks over a power-sharing deal.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Monica Cummings said Kerry “continues to engage directly with both candidates in order to facilitate a political agreement to bring about a government of national unity and resolve the electoral impasse in Afghanistan.”