In the last decade, Afghanistan had to lay down strong foundations for a sustainable development in all major areas. Nonetheless, this country continues to remain highly instable and its achievements are greatly fragile. This is not the Afghanistan its people had hoped for when the Taliban regime were thrown out the government and the international community enhanced its presence in here and generously provided aids for its reconstruction and development. With escalation of insecurity and deterioration political condition, hope for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan is dying in the hearts of common Afghans and the public-government trust gap has widened like never before. The withdrawal plan of NATO troops is to put Afghanistan at further menace of economic downfall and return of worse days.

However, the next presidential election as a result of which a new government will be formed can be a great source of hope, if its transparency and fairness is ensured up to a satisfactory level. Therefore, all eyes are on the next year’s presidential election due to be held in April. This election will be different from elections held in 2005 and 2009. First it is because President Hamid Karzai will not be running as candidate. He is no more eligible based on the constitutional law of the country. Second it is because this time Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be in charge of providing security during the polls in most of the Afghan districts. Also, the end of the same of year most of the NATO forces will withdraw from Afghanistan.

The international commitment to support Afghanistan for a long term beyond 2014 and Afghanistan’s strategic partnership agreements with a number of economically and politically strong countries are encouraging. Nonetheless, all those efforts will bear no sweet fruit for Afghanistan if this country remains as corrupt and incapable as today.

The biggest challenge for the next president will be working to improve areas where the current administration is failing. Afghans would need a president who would be brave enough to roam freely within Kabul without fear of any kind. But all these will only be possible, if the international community pushes the Karzai administration to take timely measures to conduct a free, fair and transparent election.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC), whose authorities have historically been under direct influence of presidential palace, must be autonomous in real terms so that it performs its responsibilities in the best national interest.