Though there are many processes that are necessary for the political development in Afghanistan, the 2014 election, at the moment, is considered the top priority matter. What will be the nature of the election and how it is going to be conducted will to a large extent decide the political scenario in post-2014 Afghanistan. Elections have very decisive role in the democratic political systems.

The regularity and transparency of elections provide a strong footing to the pillars of democracy. Unfortunately, the political system of Afghanistan has certain disadvantages in this regard. There have not been a very rich history of regular elections in Afghanistan and the ones that have been carried out have not been comprehensive enough.

A NATO Official, Domini Medley, on Monday, April 06, emphasized that the Afghan government should conduct transparent elections, combat corruption and improve governance for continued international assistance.

The Afghan government’s efforts to meet the commitments would allow the global fraternity to continue supporting the war-devastated nation in the years to come, the NATO civilian senior representative’s spokesman said.

Addressing a news conference in Kabul, Dominic called the 2014 presidential elections a critical part of Afghanistan’s continued progress in smooth political transition.

Fair polls were a shared responsibility for a democratic society, he said, urging electoral institutions, the government, political parties, media, civil society and citizens to work together to ensure an outcome acceptable to all Afghans.

Though there are many other factors as well that will be influencing the 2014 elections, security will, as usual, remain a big challenge. Jan Kubis, United Nations envoy to Afghanistan ensured earlier that UN will definitely support the country’s electoral authorities to ensure the sustainability, integrity and inclusiveness of future polls.

NATO spokesman also told reporters, “The increasingly capable and confident Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are now taking the lead in providing security to nearly 90 percent of the Afghan population,”. He said the next important phase in the transition process -- when the ANSF would take the lead for providing security across Afghanistan -- would start soon. “And ISAF forces will continue to provide mentorship, advice and support to the ANSF until the end of 2014.” 

It is a crystal clear fact that Afghan political system needs extra care, concentration and honest efforts for its improvement. So, the Afghan authorities, especially the Afghan President himself must strive to strengthen the pillars of democracy in the country and make all the possible efforts to hold a historical and exemplary election in 2014.

On the other hand, Western allies must put pressure and provide assistant so that the 2014 election must be held on time and must not have the drawbacks that were present in 2009 Presidential elections. It must be made sure that improvements are brought in the polling systems that can help the people of Afghanistan participate without complications in the elections and have their true representatives in parliament.

In addition efforts should be carried out to introduce improvements in the arbitration system and voter registrations. The computerized identity cards should be started as soon as possible and the registrations should be made computerized. Government must also motivate and facilitate people thoroughly so that maximum number of people participates in elections and the turn out should be satisfactory. Independent Election Commission (IEC) of Afghanistan must also make sure that it carries out the necessary measures before the election is conducted.

It is time to know that one of the basic ways the people can participate in the affairs of the state is through elections. Well-established and developed election systems can provide opportunities to all the members of the society to cast their votes and have their say in the making of the government. However, in Afghanistan this basic institution of democracy has not been able to function appropriately.

The last presidential and parliamentary elections were vehemently dominated by corruption and insecurity. The government that was formed as a result of the election was not in accordance to the will of the majority of the people. Most of the people because of the security concerns and many other problems could not even cast their votes. Moreover, the election fraud and misuse of power to influence voters also played dominant role in forming the government not fully favored by the people.

The proper and well-developed election process can play an important role in creating accountable government. A political party or a politician in order to be elected by the votes of the people tries to perform properly so that it gets chance of remaining in authority for a longer period of time. If the political parties and the contestants in the elections come to know that they can win the election even without the consent of the people, through illegal ways, they will never remain accountable to the people and would not care much about the public opinion. Afghan political scenario, at the moment, is facing almost a similar sort of situation.

A thorough analysis of Afghanistan’s political scenario will depict that currently the political processes are also being kept aloof of accountability along with the institutions. The current efforts for the reconciliation and reintegration processes are very much non-participatory and non-transparent. As the major stakeholders are being kept away from the processes, a sort of ambiguity and distrust is being generated within different circles and the people of Afghanistan. Moreover, there is a disadvantage of such an approach as well – it is likely to result in improper and incomplete outcomes of the processes, which will further generate controversies. 

Afghan authorities have in fact kept on striving to limit the power and authority to themselves and, on certain occasions, have used the same irresponsibly. The need of time is to make the political institutions and processes accountable to the people through proper democratization of the political structure. 

Moreover, Afghan government needs to address the concerns regarding good governance and growing corruption.

It has to make sure that the government is able to serve the people of Afghanistan and make the country a better place for them to live. It also needs to ensure that the ruling elite in the country does not utilize all the support and assistance to fulfill its own self-centered incentives. Otherwise, the expectations of peace and tranquility in the country and the region will be nothing more than woolgathering.