The continuation of the tension between President Ashraf Ghani and his political opponent Abdullah Abdullah is a “shame” and could affect the country’s image among its international partners, Kabul residents said on Saturday.

The residents said the country will move towards an irreversible crisis if the rifts remain unsolved. Right now, according to the residents, the country is faced with poverty, insecurity and COVID-19 and that it does not have the ability to tolerate further political turmoil.

“They are acting in a way that mostly affects the poor who are hardly hit by poverty,” said Hafizullah, a Kabul resident, referring to political leaders.

“You two are fighting for what? Everyone will be killed by hunger,” said a Kabul resident.

“If they agree on a two-headed government but they remain against each other, we cannot expect anything from them,” said a Kabul resident, referring to Afghan political leaders.

Recently there have been signs of progress in political negotiations between Ghani and Abdullah’s teams who have said they have reached an agreement in principle.

A copy of a proposed agreement between the two sides seen by TOLOnews insists on an executive role for Abdullah who, if agreed upon, will lead the High Council of National Reconciliation.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said there has been progress between Ghani and Abdullah’s teams in reaching a political agreement and that this agreement will be signed in the near future.

“There has been an understanding on big political matters,” Sediqqi said.

The two sides were expected to sign an agreement last week. Sources said there are disagreements over “small matters.”