Relief as Afghans vote in largely peaceful poll
Print Edition
AFGHANISTAN’S presidential election drew to a close yesterday amid relief that attacks by Taliban fighters were fewer than feared for a vote that will bring the first-ever democratic transfer of power in a country plagued by conflict for decades.
“I congratulate all Afghans for this successful and historic election,” said election secretary Zia-ur-Rahman, as counting got under way. “People participated beyond our expectations.”
It will take six weeks for results to come in and a final result to be declared in the race to succeed President Hamid Karzai. Even then, one of the eight candidates will have to score over 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off.
Turnout high
Despite the Taliban threat, turnout was 7 million out of 12 million eligible voters — about 58 percent — according to estimates, election commission chief Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani said. That was well above the 4.5 million who voted at the last election in 2009, as voters refused to be cowed by the militants.
“I am here to vote and I am not afraid of any attacks,” said Haji Ramazan as he stood in line at a polling station in rain-drenched Kabul. “This is my right, and no one can stop me.”
The United States could point to the advance of democracy in one of the world’s most violent countries as a success as it prepares to withdraw the bulk of its troops by the year-end.
They have been there since helping Afghan forces topple the Taliban regime in 2001.
Yet as US troops get ready to go home, the abiding Taliban threat and uncertainty over neighbor Pakistan’s intentions leave the worry that Afghanistan could once again become a haven for groups like al-Qaida.
During yesterday’s election, there were dozens of reports of roadside bombs, attacks on polling stations, police and voters. In the eastern province of Kunar alone, two voters died and 14 were wounded, while 14 Taliban militants were killed.
However, there were no large-scale attacks by the Taliban on an election it saw a US-backed sham and had vowed to derail.
Dozens died in a spate of attacks in the preceding weeks.
Most people had expected the election to be better run than the chaotic 2009 vote that handed Karzai a second term amid massive fraud and ballot stuffing.
The constitution barred Karzai from seeking another term.
Former foreign ministers Abdullah Abdullah and Zalmay Rassoul and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani were regarded as favorites to succeed Karzai.
More than 350,000 Afghan troops were deployed, guarding against attacks on polling stations and voters. Capital Kabul was sealed off by rings of roadblocks and checkpoints.
The election commission said at least 10 percent of polling stations were expected to be shut due to security threats, and most foreign observers left after a deadly attack in Kabul last month.
In some areas, voters complained that ballot papers had run out. The interior ministry said six officials were detained for trying to rig the vote, and several people were arrested for trying to use fake voter cards.
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