The young and the injured refuse to be cowed by terrorists as they run the gauntlet to vote
Shkula Zadran was at her polling station in Kabul when a loud blast sent voters rushing for cover amid panicked screams.
This was the latest in a series of attacks on Afghan civilians casting their votes in yesterday’s parliamentary elections.
Despite threats by the Taliban and ISIS, an encouraging number of voters made it to the polling stations. Some made several attempts to reach their polling centres, amid gunfire and explosions, at great personal risk.
“The situation got really bad and people panicked,” Ms Zadran, 25, told The National. “Everyone was screaming and running and I decided to go home then without having voted.”
But the young political activist refused to be deterred by the violence. She waited until evening and set out for the second time to cast her vote.
Fearing for her life, Ms Zadran’s family tried to discourage her from going.
“I feel responsible for my country’s future,” she said. “So many people voted in insecure provinces, so why not me?”.
Ms Zadran said the sacrifice of those who died in the service of Afghanistan inspired her to go back and vote.
Her sentiment was echoed across the country and among the victims of yesterday’s violence.
Amir Mohammed, 20, an icecream shop owner in the eastern province of Nangarhar, was injured in an attack yesterday morning in Kama district.
“I was at the gate of the centre waiting to enter when the explosion happened,” Mr Mohammed said. “The bomb was placed just outside.”
He suffered injuries to his leg and torso and had to be rushed to the hospital. Hours later, bandaged and recovering, he returned to the polling station with his family.
“We are definitely voting for the sake of prosperity of my country,” Mr Mohammed said, adding that he felt anger towards the Taliban.
Fareed Ranjbar in the northern Baghlan province also went to vote in an act of defiance against the Taliban, who remain opposed to the vote despite their continuing negotiations with the US administration of President Donald Trump.
“I am standing against them using my rights to respond to their boycott,” Mr Ranjbar said.
He lost his nephew in clashes yesterday morning between Afghan security forces and the Taliban.
Mr Ranjbar attended his funeral before returning to the polling station to vote.
In a Facebook post, which has since gone viral, he wrote: “I made a promise to the country and I am committed to the future of this country.”
He said that despite his personal tragedy, he was optimistic.
“My people want to move forward and I am using my vote to bring the younger, educated generation to power in Afghanistan,” Mr Ranjbar said.