Twenty politicians have so far submitted their nomination papers to Independent Election Commission for April 5th presidential election. Some prominent names like Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and former Islamist warlord Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf can be seen in the nomination list. With that, the election campaign by runners of both presidential and provincial councils’ seats is to get more momentum in the coming days. More important than election campaigns will be what plans the presidential candidates will offer for taking Afghanistan out of the grave challenges facing it and how areas where the current administration is failing can be improved.

Democracy is nascent in Afghanistan but it has gained more supporters since the ouster of Taliban from government in 2001. Previous elections have given notable experience to the people and public awareness is not as it was in 2004-05. Therefore, it would be tougher for the candidates to satisfy the people by empty promises and only those with solid and practicable plans bearing solutions to the problems of the people will be voted. It is advisable that the election candidates must avoid making slogans that are far from reality. They must give slogans that are in conformity with the prevailing conditions in the country.

The next administration in Afghanistan will be responsive to the people of Afghanistan and demand of the international community if and only if fraud, ballot stuffing and other forms of election related dishonesty can be prevented. A desirable government would be a corruption-free and reform-oriented government that can defend, reconstruct and develop Afghanistan, expand rule of law, provide justice, counter narcotics, protect human rights and can find a better way to resolve the ongoing conflict in the country. Formation of such a government can be expected from a candidate who wins the presidential election through false and baseless slogans and promises and rigging on the polling day.

There is no doubt that the next presidential election, its fairness and transparency and the candidate that will be successful will all be crucial for future political, social and economic stability of Afghanistan.  Key to Afghanistan's future stability will be a credible and inclusive presidential election in 2014, followed by a constitutional transfer of power. For a prosperous Afghanistan, the presidential candidate must enter the election battle with clean and sincere intentions.