After delays over disputed votes, Ghani was declared the winner in the final results on 18 February 2020.

The additional time will be used to verify voter lists and train election workers on the new biometric identification system.

Atmar's campaign said that the suspension was due to the poor security situation and the ongoing peace process.

On 17 September 2019, a suicide bomber attacked the campaign rally of President Ashraf Ghani, killing 26 people and wounding 42.

Less than an hour later, the Taliban carried out another suicide bomb attack near the US Embassy and the Afghan Defense Ministry, killing 22 people and wounding around 38.

[16] Despite low turnout, voting during election day was described by Reuters as being held in a "relative calm" situation, with 3 deaths and 37 injuries occurring due to "small-scale" Taliban attacks.

"[13] However, a tally held by The New York Times, which was based on conversations with local officials, found a death toll of "at least 30 security personnel and 10 civilians", and a number of "at least 40 security forces and 150 civilians" injured—which, according to the Times, was "much higher than the official reports, but in line with the average daily toll of the country’s long-running war.

[35] On 23 March 2020 the United States announced that as a result of the political crisis it would reduce aid to Afghanistan by $1 billion.

[36] The political crisis was brought to an end on 17 May 2020, when Ghani and Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal.