Taliban’s threat could only strengthen the resolve of Afghan people to take active part in the presidential and provincial elections. Afghans’ massive participation was praised by the international community and foreign countries. Millions of Afghans flocked to the polling centers with the hope of a secure and peaceful future. They trusted the presidential and provincial candidates casting their votes to anticipate a country free of violence and corruption.

The security measurements taken by Afghan military forces were highly praiseworthy. They demonstrated their courage and commitment through fruitful strategy to secure the polling centers and to save the voters.

The secure election was a bitter pill for the Taliban insurgents to swallow. Their attempts to interrupt the election were foiled by the Afghan forces and they sustained heavy casualties in the operations carried out by the Afghan forces before the election. Hence, the Taliban’s ragtag guerilla can hardly stand against the Afghan security forces.

The mass participation of women in the election, despite many barriers, was unbelievable. On Election Day, I was in a mountainous province and saw old women walking long hours, with great zeal, to the polling centers. Shah Jahan, an old woman who walked long hours and also carried some loaves of bread to have for lunch, said, “I want to cast my vote and I feel happy because we will have new president. New president will bring security and I saw the candidates on TV.” She added, “The candidates said they will work hard and with sympathy for us.” Reportedly, voting rate has turned out to be proportional with 36% of the 7 million ballots cast by women.

Despite the free election, still some challenges were reported and some complaints were filed. Lack of ballot papers was one of the problems which deprived many Afghans from their rights to vote. Answering to this problem, the IECC’s spokesman Mohsin Nadiri said that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) is supposed to answer this question, not the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC). Hence, some Afghans rail against this problem.

Afghan people played their role responsibly in the election and now it is the future president to play his role sincerely and fulfill their expectations.  I hope that he will not betray the people who voted with strong eagerness. Moreover, Afghans, who are exhausted from violence and insecurity, hope for peaceful and more democratic country in the near future.