Afghan voters defy Taliban attacks
•9.5 million registered to elect a president •Five dead, 37 hurt in militant violence at polls
Millions of Afghans defied violence by Taliban militants on Saturday and turned out to vote in presidential elections.
At least five people died and 37 were injured in attacks on polling centers by insurgents trying to disrupt the process. Authorities placed Kabul under partial lockdown, flooded streets with troops and banned trucks from entering the capital in an effort to deter suicide bombers. “The enemy carried out 68 attacks against election sites across the country, but security forces repelled
STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY
most of the attacks,” acting Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid said. About 70,000 security forces were deployed across the country to protect more than 9.5 million registered voters. Armed security forces staffed the polling centers, searching voters outside.
The Taliban said the election was a sham, and claimed to have carried out “hundreds of attacks.” However, the death toll was lower than on previous election days, and residents told Arab News there was less violence than at last year’s parliamentary election.
There are 13 candidates for the presidency, but the front runners are incumbent Ashraf Ghani, who is seeking a second five-year term, and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah. After voting at a school in Kabul, Ghani said the most important issue was finding a leader with a mandate to end the 18-year war. “Our roadmap is ready, I want the people to give us permission and legitimacy so that we pursue peace,” he said. Preliminary results are expected on Oct. 19. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two will take part in a runoff in November.
In Kabul, streets were deserted in the initial hours of voting, shops were shut and there were fewer people on the streets. At some polling centers, security forces outnumbered voters.
“I cast my vote because it was the only way to get a legitimate government,” civil servant Shah Mahmoud, 47, told Arab News outside a voting center in central Kabul.
“I had fears about attacks but thought I had to come out and vote. Some of my family joined me but others did not because of security concerns,” he said.
Frustrated with the two leaders’ performances, some who had voted for either Ghani or Abdullah in the 2014 election did not vote on Saturday. “Why risk my life and waste my vote when we have two prominent figures who have failed to help the poor and bring security?” said shopkeeper Mohammad Darwesh, 35.
Zabihullah Pakteen, an Afghan analyst, told Arab News: “Postelection agreement can determine the impact of the elections. A good outcome would be compromise between Ghani and Abdullah.”