Afghanistan: Peace through election?
Joe Fleishman
October 07, 2009
U.S. - Afghan relation is once again facing challenge on the concern of Afghanistan´s Presidential election. Most of the western observers believe Afghanistan´s election was not fair and significant irregularities were took place. U.S. is taking these allegations seriously. But Afghan President Hamid Karzai totally denounced the allegation.
However, Mr. Karzai cannot totally turned down the complains of irregularities. Afghan authorities agreed on some degrees of incident in some places. They have decided 10% vote recount in the alleged places. But how well will it solve the problem?
Afghan insurgency is nothing new rather trouble is a natural phenomenon for Afghan people´s life. Years after years they are watching insurgency in the country. War changed their leaders many times but war is never ended. British, Russian, now NATO all tried to bring Afghanistan in their favor. But till now there is no success story.
No ruler could rule Afghanistan for many days. Afghanistan is a place of hundreds of tribes. Many of them live in the hostile terrain where summer is burning and winter is freezing and they have little money and electricity to set up air conditioner at their home. Life is very difficult in this part of the world. They have shortage of everything except guns. In this drought battle is inescapable.
Foreign troops have always failed to accommodate with this hostility. Many have thought if Russians leave Afghanistan will see peace. But experts have always argued. Now it seems Russians had very little to do with Afghan war. U.S. led NATO forces have recently strengthened their assault over Taliban stronghold hoping for some peace, though the result is not very convincing after months of fighting.
In the mean time Afghan Presidential election was held. Taliban threat could not disrupt the election but what upset the election was mass level vote rigging. No one is satisfied with the election. United National Front candidate former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah has rejected the result said its not representing people´s opinion. President Hamid Karzai however has little botheration with it. But he was angry when U.S. was critical on the whole election procedure.
BBC has reported trading of ballot paper just before the election raised many question. Some observers complained similar story in other places.
Recounting some of the votes Hamid Karzai may be looking for credibility of the election. However, with this election Afghanistan is now on the way for democracy. Practicing the democracy may one day erect a perfect election for Afghan people. Till then Afghanistan need to stay in track. For the place like Afghanistan it is not an easy job.
There are many uncertainty is still exist. How long the democratic process can survive? How successfully it will possible to eliminate Taliban from the region? What is the possibility of them to return back? Do the other tribal groups will accept the election outcome and if not what they will do? Will tribal leaders take guns once again to establish their control?
Afghan peace may be a far cry until these questions are being solved.
However, Mr. Karzai cannot totally turned down the complains of irregularities. Afghan authorities agreed on some degrees of incident in some places. They have decided 10% vote recount in the alleged places. But how well will it solve the problem?
Afghan insurgency is nothing new rather trouble is a natural phenomenon for Afghan people´s life. Years after years they are watching insurgency in the country. War changed their leaders many times but war is never ended. British, Russian, now NATO all tried to bring Afghanistan in their favor. But till now there is no success story.
No ruler could rule Afghanistan for many days. Afghanistan is a place of hundreds of tribes. Many of them live in the hostile terrain where summer is burning and winter is freezing and they have little money and electricity to set up air conditioner at their home. Life is very difficult in this part of the world. They have shortage of everything except guns. In this drought battle is inescapable.
Foreign troops have always failed to accommodate with this hostility. Many have thought if Russians leave Afghanistan will see peace. But experts have always argued. Now it seems Russians had very little to do with Afghan war. U.S. led NATO forces have recently strengthened their assault over Taliban stronghold hoping for some peace, though the result is not very convincing after months of fighting.
In the mean time Afghan Presidential election was held. Taliban threat could not disrupt the election but what upset the election was mass level vote rigging. No one is satisfied with the election. United National Front candidate former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah has rejected the result said its not representing people´s opinion. President Hamid Karzai however has little botheration with it. But he was angry when U.S. was critical on the whole election procedure.
BBC has reported trading of ballot paper just before the election raised many question. Some observers complained similar story in other places.
Recounting some of the votes Hamid Karzai may be looking for credibility of the election. However, with this election Afghanistan is now on the way for democracy. Practicing the democracy may one day erect a perfect election for Afghan people. Till then Afghanistan need to stay in track. For the place like Afghanistan it is not an easy job.
There are many uncertainty is still exist. How long the democratic process can survive? How successfully it will possible to eliminate Taliban from the region? What is the possibility of them to return back? Do the other tribal groups will accept the election outcome and if not what they will do? Will tribal leaders take guns once again to establish their control?
Afghan peace may be a far cry until these questions are being solved.
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