The turnout of Afghans during presidential elections was astonishing. The long queue of people in the polling centers were eye-catching and a promising sign for the future. Millions of people from the early morning flowed to nearest polling centers and waited for hours to cast their votes for their favorite candidates. Despite heavy rain in Kabul, people stood uninterrupted, reflecting their commitment and self-confidence on their power of their votes. Live broadcast of elections showed people even in the restive areas without caring about the continuous threats of Taliban.
Taliban militants vowed to disrupt the election at all cost. During campaign, it could carry number of spectacular attacks in the most barricaded areas of Kabul city, which were triggering fear among common arguing that if militants can target the heart of Kabul city despite heavy presence of security forces, then they might be able to target people lining at the polling stations across the country.
Additionally, Afghan officials often blamed the intelligent services of neighboring countries and it was as serious concern both for government as well as civilians. It was believed that there are some countries whose interests are not aligned with a peaceful transition of power. Hence, they will stand against and will try their best to wreak havoc in the electoral process in order to discourage people of taking part in a landmark election.
Ostensibly, both movements bluntly failed against our national resolve. With significantly high turnout, they send a message to world that they are active citizens who are sensitive towards their destiny. If Afghans are awake, nothing can prevent them of doing what they deem as the right thing. This reality was displayed in the most restive eastern provinces where people openly defied the command of Taliban. By making long queues at the polling stations, they sent a clear message to all those who want to despoil their country. They celebrated the day without caring about what would be the aftermath of a casting a single vote? Indirectly, they said to all active armed anti-government opposition that they will not yield to any movements that want to rule the country against their will. They will put their lives on the line to determine the destiny of their country through peaceful means instead of pointing guns to chest of their brothers. So, from this point of view, what millions of Afghan did at the polling stations across the country can be singled out from any elections held in the countries that regularly hold elections. Despite understanding that their participation may cost their lives, but they never cared and taught the rebellions a lesson of bravery and courage. It is something that the international community confessed and put in murmuring those who previously argued that democratic system is still too early for society where tribal system still has deep roots.
Moreover, I can claim with certainty that unlike countries like Egypt, Thailand and Ukraine where elections deepened as well as widened the social gaps, Saturday’s elections were much similar to a national celebration. They not only broke out chaos among supporters of different candidates rather pulled people together. They showed that actually democracy works in Afghanistan if the international community continues cooperation. Unlike widespread assumption that people may vote on communal lines but preliminary vote counts revealed yet by unauthorized individuals reflect that visible number of voted cross communal, considering the merits of each candidates other than communal affiliation.
It can be the most promising of political development in Afghanistan. It seems that major shift has been made at the ground the level. Communal affiliation is the not the main obsession as believed rather the plans, knowledge, experience, background and etc. are the key issues for the success and failures of presidential candidates. It is a reality that shocked even officials of regional countries.
And finally, what Afghan security forces did on Saturday was enviable. Taliban and its affiliated groups were fully aware that if the election moves uninterrupted, the trust of civilians will raise tremendously on Afghan security establishments. Presently, if part of Afghans avoids cooperating with security forces is only due to reason that may feel unsafe. If they reach to a conclusion that they will remain safe and Afghan brave soldiers and police will guarantee their safety and their families’, they will cooperate and report insurgent’s activities. Hence, if they lose the support or their dominance and fear erode among people, they will not be safe anywhere in the country and their strengths in challenging the government will diminish significantly.
Therefore, they accumulated their full power and left no stone unturned to wreak havoc in the process, but they bluntly failed. If I claim that Saturday’s elections was as major defeat for militants as the collapse of Taliban government in 2001 by US-led military intervention, I have not exaggerated.
The number of attempted attacks approves my allegation. Defense Ministry Spokesman, Gen. Zahir Azimi said on Saturday that armed militants carried out 690 attacks across the country during the presidential elections on Saturday. He added that the ranges of attacks included direct fire, rocket attacks, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and suicide attacks. But all attempts failed to deal high civilians or security casualties rather militants suffered heavy casualties.
He added that 164 militants were killed and 82 others were injured during the attacks while Afghan army soldiers seized various types of weapons belonging to the assailant militants while only 7 Afghan national army soldiers were martyred and 45 others were injured during these attacks.