KABUL - Frontrunner presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah travelled to the eastern Paktiya Province on Saturday for his first tour of runoff campaign, promising peace to the relatively hostile province.
Addressing a crowd of his supporters, Dr. Abdullah his team was committed to restoring a lasting peace and security in the country.
Eastern Afghanistan has been the hotbed for the Taliban-led insurgency in the past several years.
"We will serve Afghanistan without considering any discrimination," said Abdullah. "We are committed to restoration a durable peace and stability nationwide as it's a top priority for us."
Regardless of who would win the runoff poll set for June 14, the next Afghan leader would inherit an increasing insecurity as the Taliban intensify their attacks while foreign troops are put an end to their combat operations by the end of the year.
In the three-week runoff campaign, both Mr Abdullah and Mr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai have said to further explain their policies to the people on how to govern the country if elected.
In Abdullah's rally in Paktia's provincial capital Gardiz, he also promised to undertake comprehensive measures to fight corruption and poverty.
Echoing Abdullah's promises, his second Vice Presidential running mate, Mohammad Mohaqeq, criticised President Karzai's anti-poverty policies and called Afghanistan still a "wounded body-part of the international community" after 13 years of international support.
Abdullah came fifth in Paktia with just over 5 per cent of the votes with his runoff contender Mr Ghani was first with more than 62 per cent. Abdullah's visit to Paktia – Ghani's stronghold – seems that he targets the places where he bagged less votes during the campaign for the second round.
Overall, Abdullah led the first round with 2,973,706 votes making up 45 percent of the total votes as Ghani trailed in with 31.6 percent totaling 2,084,547 votes. Based on the election law, none of the candidates in the first round succeeded to obtain 50 per cent of the votes plus one, which is compulsory to win the elections. (Tolonews)