Bush stays, so does Karzai

US policy towards Afghanistan, heavily influenced by President George W. Bush’s Afghan-born ambassador to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, revolves around Karzai forging some semblance of unity in a country riven by sharp ethnic divides.

But critics say he needs to avoid making too many compromises in order to please leaders of Afghanistan’s myriad ethnic and political groups.

‘‘He can’t take decisions. The man who has responsibility in a presidential system has to be able to take decisions,’’ said Homayoun Shah Assefy, who ran against him in the presidential race.

And with their own election settled, Afghans watched the US Presidential race with keen interest on Wednesday, mindful that their country’s future is inextricably linked to whoever takes the White House.

For many Afghans, the result is the best they could have hoped for.

‘‘Afghans want George Bush,’’ said Noor Aziz, a translator working for the US Embassy in the capital, Kabul.

‘‘Bush supports Karzai, so it makes sense for us to support him. We know he has a plan for Afghanistan, but with Kerry we are not so sure.’’

On the surface, the US election has passed largely unnoticed in Afghanistan, which is still digesting the novelty of its own presidential race—the first in the country’s turbulent history.

But with over 18,000 US troops in Afghanistan either hunting Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders or engaged in reconstruction and development work, most Afghans know the result of the US election is just as crucial to their future.

Former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, still an influential figure, said: ‘‘Whoever they choose as president, we will have the sense to make friends with them.’’