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US Links International Aid to Fixing Afghan Political Dispute

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The United States has linked international aid
   for Afghanistan to the settlement of a protracted political crisis,
   which has seen the war-shattered country politically paralyzed and
   threatens to derail a nascent peace-building deal with the Taliban
   insurgency.

   Separately, an American military spokesman has rejected insurgent
   allegations it was violating terms of the U.S.-Taliban deal signed on
   February 29.

   The political stalemate between President Ashraf Ghani and his chief
   rival, Abdullah Abdullah, stems from the disputed September 28 Afghan
   election.

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