Presidential Candidates

7. Abdul Satar SIRAT Born: 1937 (Hegira 1316) in the north-central Samangan Province Political Affiliation: independent First Vice-Presidential Running Mate in 2004: Qazi Mohammad Amin Weqad Second Vice-Presidential Running Mate in 2004: Abdul Qader Emami

Sirat was among the 11 presidential candidates who won less than 1 percent of the vote in 2004. Regarded as a member of the so-called Rome Group that is close to former monarch Zaher Shah, Sirat is a seasoned politician who was proposed to lead the future transitional government during the Bonn talks in 2001, reportedly even winning an internal vote over Hamid Karzai and Amin Arsala at the time (see rferl.org, "Bonn Talks See Some Progress On Interim Government"). Sirat served as justice minister (1969-71) and minister without portfolio (1971-72) during the reign of Zaher Shah.     Sirat received a bachelor's degree in Islamic law from Kabul University in 1960 and subsequently lectured on theology before pursuing further studies in the United States and Egypt. He spent much of the past three decades abroad following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, including teaching in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.     Sirat is an ethnic Uzbek whose mother tongue is Dari (Adamec, p. 356). In 2004, he decried what he described as "tribalism in the formation of the government, assemblies, and commissions" ("Kabul Weekly"), suggesting that the transitional government and "interfering" foreign institutions were behind such machinations. He campaigned for president on a pledge to establish national unity in Afghanistan.     Sirat has noted and praised friendly relations with the United States while encouraging them to stay out of domestic Afghan politics. SOURCES: JEMB; RFE/RL; Radio Free Afghanistan; Ludwig W. Adamec, "Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan"; Martin Ewans, "Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics"; and as noted.