Allies Ponder How to Plan Elections in Afghanistan

Posted by Justin Bresolin

Afghan officials, along with their allied nations, find difficulty in determining how to successfully hold and manage the country’s presidential election within 5 month’s time. Scheduled for August 20th, difficulties facing the election committee include an estimated 364 territories under Taliban control, and 156 “high-risk” zones.
Afghanistan and their allies express concern that, should the election be delayed, it would be indicative of “how badly the war is going,” but could also throw the country’s government into severe crisis. Even should the dangerous zones be effectively secured, there is worry that the vote would be compromised to the point of the election’s credibility being called into debate.
In spite of this, UN deputy head Christopher Alexander declares that “all but 8 or 10 (districts) took part in voter registration and are expected to take part in elections.” Voter concerns include a jaded disaffection with the political system after so much conflict and increased accusation of voter fraud and irregularity. There is also the concern that certain Afghanis, including Taliban members, may be registering to vote simply for the increased ease of travel through government checkpoints, possibly resulting in a vulnerability for insurgents to exploit.
Regardless of the motivations of the allied nations, often being that of increasing military presence to help with the war, the efforts, both domestic and international, to radically alter the country’s political system is an interesting example of dramatic change being affected, and the global repercussions, along with the danger of political collapse until succesful implementation, are both worthy of further observation.