Afghan candidate Abdullah Abdullah has received a major endorsement ahead of the second round of the presidential election on June 14.
The election team of Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, a powerful former warlord, announced its support for Abdullah at an event in Kabul on June 3.
Interestingly, Sayyaf himself did not attend. He had previously said he would remain neutral.
But Sayyaf's two vice-presidential running mates -- former Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Ismail Khan and former lawmaker Abdul Wahab Erfan -- both proclaimed their support for Abdullah.
Sayyaf, an influential former Pashtun lawmaker, finished fourth in the first round with 7 percent of the vote.
Abdullah, an ethnic Tajik, finished with 45 percent.
He has already secured important endorsements from Gul Agha Sherzai and Zalmai Rasul, two other presidential candidates.
Abdullah faces ex-Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani in the runoff.
The election team of Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, a powerful former warlord, announced its support for Abdullah at an event in Kabul on June 3.
Interestingly, Sayyaf himself did not attend. He had previously said he would remain neutral.
But Sayyaf's two vice-presidential running mates -- former Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Ismail Khan and former lawmaker Abdul Wahab Erfan -- both proclaimed their support for Abdullah.
Sayyaf, an influential former Pashtun lawmaker, finished fourth in the first round with 7 percent of the vote.
Abdullah, an ethnic Tajik, finished with 45 percent.
He has already secured important endorsements from Gul Agha Sherzai and Zalmai Rasul, two other presidential candidates.
Abdullah faces ex-Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani in the runoff.