Squabbling Afghan presidential contenders Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdullah Abdullah danced to Washington’s tune yesterday, signing a power-sharing deal making one president and the other chief executive.

Incoming president Mr Ghani and new chief executive Mr Abdullah signed the unity government deal as outgoing President Hamid Karzai looked on.

The deal creating the new chief executive role followed weeks of negotiations on a power-sharing arrangement after accusations of fraud in the June runoff vote.

“I am very happy today that both of my brothers … in an Afghan agreement for the benefit of this country, for the progress and development of this country, agreed on the structure affirming the new government of Afghanistan,” Mr Karzai commented.

Despite his rhetoric, the deal is a victory for US Secretary of State John Kerry, who suggested power-sharing during a July visit to Afghanistan.

Mr Kerry returned to Kabul in August and has spent hours with the candidates, including in repeated phone calls, in an effort to seal the deal.

A White House statement lauded the two leaders, claiming that the agreement helps bring closure to Afghanistan’s political crisis.

“This agreement marks an important opportunity for unity and increased stability in Afghanistan,” it said.

“We continue to call on all Afghans, including political, religious, and civil society leaders, to support this agreement and to come together in calling for co-operation and calm,” the White House statement said.

UN official Jan Kubis voiced his hope that both leaders could move forward “in the spirit of genuine political partnership.”