Afghan Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has warned electronic ID cards announced by President Ashraf Ghani could lead to “more problems” in the country. The ID card, or e-Tezkera, has angered some Afghan lawmakers with its use of ethnic categories. KABUL: The introduction of electronic ID cards by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has angered the country’s Chief Executive, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who has warned the move could lead to new crises as the Taliban intensifies its attacks. Ghani announced the official distribution of ID cards — known as the e-Tezkera — in a ceremony on Thursday at his heavily fortified presidential palace. “Economic development planning, providing services and good governance is impossible without having accurate and complete information about citizens,” said Ghani. He said the new electronic ID cards would help improve the security situation in the country. Ghani received his new ID card at the launch. “Tezkera will help (strengthen) security in the country,” he said. Electronic ID cards were due to be issued three years ago, but the process was delayed because of political disagreeements. In a press conference at his office, Abdullah said the decision-making process that led to the new IDs lacked legitimacy and would create further problems in the country. “I am not against electronic ID cards, but this is not the time because there are disagreements among the people over the cards,” he said. Abdullah said he had refused to take part in the distribution of the cards “because I know this process has not received the required legitimacy and support from the Afghan people. “It is a one-sided decision that has not been approved by all the stakeholders and could lead to more problems,” he said. Abdullah urged the government to confront more serious challenges, such as drought and the war against militants. According to foreign media reports, extremists now control more of the country than at any time since the ousting of the Taliban regime in 2001. The latest dispute between the two leaders reveal a deepening rift in the government as the country gears up for long-delayed parliamentary elections in October and the presidential polls in 2019. Ghani and Abdullah had agreed to a power-sharing arrangement mediated by the US after claims that the country’s 2014 elections were rigged. The two leaders have been at loggerheads over major policy measures since. The National Unity Government (NUG) planned to introduce ID cards to stop fraudulent voting. However, political disagreements halted the plan. The NUG also failed to hold parliamentary elections set for spring 2015. The main dispute over the new e-cards involves use of the term “Afghan” to denote nationality. Previous paper ID cards used the term as a denomination for all ethnic groups in the country. However, the Pashtuns, the traditional rulers of Afghanistan, want the ethnicity of the card holder to be specified from 14 other groups. Non-Pashtun groups, especially the Tajiks, oppose the idea, claiming it would give Pashtun ethnicity national status.