Elections have been a tricky business in Afghanistan. Since the US invasion in 2001, the country has been in turmoil between the Taliban and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has managed to hold the elections since 2004, with each government losing more support and bringing in more instability in the region.
The country has managed to hold its elections after the recent escalations in violence. The Taliban has been attacking political rallies and trying to dismantle the government’s attempts to restore democracy.
Despite worries regarding the elections, the voters have been determined to vote. According to a report in Al Jazeera, Ismatullah Safi, a taxi driver in Kabul had said, ” These elections are important to us because we want a leader who will negotiate peace with the Taliban and end the years-long war in the country,”.
Still many have been concerned about the threats posed by the Taliban.
Yet the fractured democratic process has had little or no impact in trying to gain the popularity of the people. Allegations of corruption and fragile security situation has led to further failures of the democratic process in the country.
Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah are considered to be the two front runners in this elections. In 2014, the elections had caused a greater furore in the process as allegations of voter fraud and corruption. The process has been of importance to the United States as a stable government in Afghanistan would allow it to safely leave the country.
According to an article in Al Jazeera, in order to provide a safe climate for the voters, the government has deployed 72,000 soldiers in 410 polling stations.
In the run-up to the elections, multiple attempts have taken place in order to disrupt the process by the Taliban. It includes the bombing in South Kandahar which had led to many innocent lives being lost.
(Inputs from agencies)