President Ashraf Ghani says that a possible peace deal – which will potentially take place in the coming weeks – will not impact the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for September 28.

“We need to differentiate the peace that will impact the elections. It is the peace between the Afghan government and Taliban, not peace between US and Taliban. As I said it is series of linkages,” Ghani said in an interview with Turkey’s TRT aired on Tuesday.

General Habibullah Ahmadzai, a former advisor to President Ghani, apologized for his recent comments on alleged sexual favors in return for key posts in a number of government institutions. 

“I have never accused the president and the first lady,” Ahmadzai said at a press conference at the Presidential Palace on Monday. “There are faithful women working within and outside the government… I apologize to the honorable president and the first lady.”