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Afghans Vote With Guarded Optimism, Looking Ahead to U.S. Withdrawal Afghans Vote With Guarded Optimism, Looking Ahead to U.S. Withdrawal
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghans lined up on Saturday to vote in the second and final round of the country’s presidential election, choosing a new leader to steer Afghanistan through the coming withdrawal of American-led military forces. Despite reports of numerous attacks in rural parts of country, the Taliban appear to have failed to disrupt the voting. KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghans lined up on Saturday to vote in the second and final round of the country’s presidential election, choosing a new leader to steer Afghanistan through the coming withdrawal of American-led military forces. Despite reports of numerous attacks in rural parts of the country, the Taliban appear to have failed to disrupt the voting.
Turnout appeared to be as high as the first round of voting in April, according to the election commission’s initial estimates. While the preliminary numbers do not take into account fraud, which was already becoming an issue, turnout appeared to be exceeding predictions by Afghan and Western officials. Turnout appeared to be as high as the first round of voting in April, according to the election commission’s initial estimates. Although the preliminary numbers do not take into account fraud, which was already becoming an issue, turnout appeared to be exceeding predictions by Afghan and Western officials.
While the euphoria of the first round was missing in Kabul on Saturday, Afghans nonetheless exhibited a guarded optimism about their future. For those who survived a devastating civil war and the harsh rule of the Taliban, the opportunity to exercise the freedom to vote was not to be passed up — even if this was the second time they were voting for a president in two months.While the euphoria of the first round was missing in Kabul on Saturday, Afghans nonetheless exhibited a guarded optimism about their future. For those who survived a devastating civil war and the harsh rule of the Taliban, the opportunity to exercise the freedom to vote was not to be passed up — even if this was the second time they were voting for a president in two months.
“When I was a young man there was war,” said Ghulam Bahuddin, 50, a government employee. “You weren’t safe stepping into the street. Now I can vote and choose who should lead us.”“When I was a young man there was war,” said Ghulam Bahuddin, 50, a government employee. “You weren’t safe stepping into the street. Now I can vote and choose who should lead us.”
The election has so far proved to be an unexpected bright spot for Afghans and their Western backers, setting up the country for the first peaceful transfer of power in its history. But next president will face major challenges: The Taliban remain a potent threat, the economy is on the verge of a free fall, and corruption is so pervasive that many believe it poses as great a risk to stability as the insurgency. The election has so far proved to be an unexpected bright spot for Afghans and their Western backers, setting up the country for the first peaceful transfer of power in its history. But the next president will face major challenges: The Taliban remain a potent threat, the economy is on the verge of a free fall, and corruption is so pervasive that many believe it poses as great a risk to stability as the insurgency.
Voters were choosing between Abdullah Abdullah, a prominent opposition politician, and Ashraf Ghani, a former finance minister, to succeed President Hamid Karzai. Although Mr. Abdullah won the most votes in the first round, the second round is expected to be more competitive. The fear among Afghan and Western officials is that the winner’s margin of victory will be smaller than the amount of fraudulent votes, raising the possibility of a drawn-out political crisis in a country with a history of violent conflict.Voters were choosing between Abdullah Abdullah, a prominent opposition politician, and Ashraf Ghani, a former finance minister, to succeed President Hamid Karzai. Although Mr. Abdullah won the most votes in the first round, the second round is expected to be more competitive. The fear among Afghan and Western officials is that the winner’s margin of victory will be smaller than the amount of fraudulent votes, raising the possibility of a drawn-out political crisis in a country with a history of violent conflict.
Already, both camps have said that fraud would be the only reason for their candidate’s defeat. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be getting the campaigns — and their followers — to accept the final results announced by the election commission.Already, both camps have said that fraud would be the only reason for their candidate’s defeat. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be getting the campaigns — and their followers — to accept the final results announced by the election commission.
“Dr. Abdullah was the winner in the first round, but the government wouldn’t allow it,” said Zulheja Kohistani, 45, who was monitoring a polling place in Kabul for the Abdullah campaign. “He will win the second round one way or the other. We may go against the government if he isn’t declared the winner.”“Dr. Abdullah was the winner in the first round, but the government wouldn’t allow it,” said Zulheja Kohistani, 45, who was monitoring a polling place in Kabul for the Abdullah campaign. “He will win the second round one way or the other. We may go against the government if he isn’t declared the winner.”
Scattered violence was reported across the country. Some women and children were killed by rocket attacks. Officials said that 11 police officers and as many as 20 soldiers died in gun battles and bombings. Scattered violence was reported across the country. Some women and children were killed by rocket attacks. Interior Ministry officials said that 11 police officers, 15 soldiers and at least 20 civilians died in gun battles and bombings.
But by the time the polls closed on Saturday, the Taliban did not appear to have carried out any major attacks in urban areas. A handful of rocket attacks in Kabul before the polls opened barely registered. But by the time the polls closed, the Taliban did not appear to have carried out any major attacks in urban areas. A few rocket attacks in Kabul before the polls opened barely registered.
The most serious violence took place in rural Afghanistan, the traditional strongholds of the insurgency where the security presence is smaller and the likelihood of civilian casualties lower. But the extent of that violence, and its impact on voting, was difficult to assess, and officials offered no immediate death toll related to the day’s violence. Elections here tend to focus on urban issues, a phenomenon that contributes to the disenfranchisement felt in the countryside. The most serious violence took place in rural Afghanistan, in the insurgents’ strongholds where the security presence is smaller and the likelihood of civilian casualties lower. But the extent of that violence, and its impact on voting, was difficult to assess. Elections here tend to focus on urban issues, a phenomenon that contributes to the disenfranchisement felt in the countryside.
Still, the Taliban claimed that their fighters were sowing chaos, eager to assert that they had made an impact on the runoff election after having largely failed to disrupt the April voting. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgents, posted messages on Twitter that included reports of “big blasts” and threats about “halting the vote.” Hours after polls closed, the authorities in Herat Province reported that the Taliban had cut off the fingers of 13 people who had voted. Voters have their index fingers dipped in ink to ensure that they vote only once.
Throughout the day, the Taliban claimed that their fighters were sowing chaos, eager to assert that they had affected the runoff election after having largely failed to disrupt the April voting. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgents, posted messages on Twitter that included reports of “big blasts” and threats about “halting the vote.”
But voters lined up in Kabul’s neighborhoods early Saturday paid little mind to the Taliban. While the lines at Zarghoona High School were shorter than those seen in April, Afghans who were casting ballots characterized their actions as historic.But voters lined up in Kabul’s neighborhoods early Saturday paid little mind to the Taliban. While the lines at Zarghoona High School were shorter than those seen in April, Afghans who were casting ballots characterized their actions as historic.
Mohammad Ismail, who owns a tire shop in the city, brought his 6-year-old daughter, Nida, to the polls at a nearby mosque. “She insisted,” he said with a chuckle. “When I told her she didn’t have a voter card, she told me she would use mine.”Mohammad Ismail, who owns a tire shop in the city, brought his 6-year-old daughter, Nida, to the polls at a nearby mosque. “She insisted,” he said with a chuckle. “When I told her she didn’t have a voter card, she told me she would use mine.”
As the line ebbed, Mr. Ismail lingered near the entrance to the polling site as Nida hid behind his leg. “I never thought I’d have the chance to bring my daughter to participate in a vote,” he said.As the line ebbed, Mr. Ismail lingered near the entrance to the polling site as Nida hid behind his leg. “I never thought I’d have the chance to bring my daughter to participate in a vote,” he said.
The presidential campaign, which began nearly six months ago, has emerged as welcome news for a country where very little has gone as expected in the past year. Despite the Taliban’s threats, tens of thousands of Afghans turned out for rallies since the campaign began in January, and the first round of voting drew a high turnout after the country braced for a wave of violence that failed to materialize. The presidential campaign, which began nearly six months ago, has emerged as welcome news for a country where very little has gone as expected in the past year. Despite the Taliban’s threats, tens of thousands of Afghans turned out for rallies, and the first round drew a high turnout. The threatened wave of violence never materialized.
The first round also was carried out with the large-scale fraud that was widely feared. A slew of measures enacted by electoral officials appeared to head off a repeat of the 2009 vote, in which more than a fifth of all ballots were thrown out as fraudulent. The first round also took place without the large-scale fraud that was widely feared. A slew of measures enacted by electoral officials appeared to head off a repeat of the 2009 vote, in which more than a fifth of all ballots were thrown out as fraudulent.
But as electoral officials tallied votes after the first round and winnowed the field of eight contenders down to two, the campaign’s festive feel ebbed. It quickly became apparent that there was ample fraud in the first round of voting — about 375,000 votes were disqualified — even if it was not enough to have altered the outcome.But as electoral officials tallied votes after the first round and winnowed the field of eight contenders down to two, the campaign’s festive feel ebbed. It quickly became apparent that there was ample fraud in the first round of voting — about 375,000 votes were disqualified — even if it was not enough to have altered the outcome.
Some candidates and observers fear that the runoff election will involve more fraud, especially in areas of insecurity, where monitoring the polls is extremely difficult.Some candidates and observers fear that the runoff election will involve more fraud, especially in areas of insecurity, where monitoring the polls is extremely difficult.
Throughout most of the day, election observers and officials worried that the turnout would be far lower than the first round, assessments based on anecdotal evidence. But unlike last time, voters did not have to wade through sheets of provincial council candidates. They merely had to choose between the two presidential contenders, making the process far faster.Throughout most of the day, election observers and officials worried that the turnout would be far lower than the first round, assessments based on anecdotal evidence. But unlike last time, voters did not have to wade through sheets of provincial council candidates. They merely had to choose between the two presidential contenders, making the process far faster.
“You don’t see long queues like the last election, but this does not mean the participation is less compared to the first round of elections,” said Aziz Ahmad Rasooli, the head of the election commission in Bamiyan Province. “The reason is because the process has been sped up and there is an increase in the number of polling stations in the province.” “You don’t see long queues like the last election, but this does not mean the participation is less compared to the first round of elections,” said Aziz Ahmad Rasooli, the head of the election commission in Bamian Province. “The reason is because the process has been sped up and there is an increase in the number of polling stations in the province.”
With the race down to Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani, the campaign began to take on a harder edge. Afghanistan’s president has vast powers and appoints nearly every official in the country — from cabinet ministers to district police chiefs — and supporters on each side are well aware that backing the loser could cost them their livelihoods.With the race down to Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani, the campaign began to take on a harder edge. Afghanistan’s president has vast powers and appoints nearly every official in the country — from cabinet ministers to district police chiefs — and supporters on each side are well aware that backing the loser could cost them their livelihoods.
In recent weeks, Afghanistan’s ethnic divide has also become an undertone in the campaign, with Mr. Ghani, a Pashtun, facing off against Mr. Abdullah, who is of mixed ancestry but is widely seen as a Tajik.In recent weeks, Afghanistan’s ethnic divide has also become an undertone in the campaign, with Mr. Ghani, a Pashtun, facing off against Mr. Abdullah, who is of mixed ancestry but is widely seen as a Tajik.
Both men selected running mates from other ethnic groups, and both emphasized the need for unity throughout the campaign. But their supporters showed far less restraint, and appeals to ethnicity increasingly became a feature of the campaign as the runoff election approached.Both men selected running mates from other ethnic groups, and both emphasized the need for unity throughout the campaign. But their supporters showed far less restraint, and appeals to ethnicity increasingly became a feature of the campaign as the runoff election approached.
Most were thinly veiled, but some were overt, and the emergence of ethnicity as an issue prompted Afghanistan’s election commission to warn campaigns against relying on ethnic appeals to drum up votes.Most were thinly veiled, but some were overt, and the emergence of ethnicity as an issue prompted Afghanistan’s election commission to warn campaigns against relying on ethnic appeals to drum up votes.
Voters interviewed in Tajik areas on Saturday were nearly uniform in their support for Mr. Abdullah. In Pashtun areas, most said they supported Mr. Ghani because he was one of them. Pashtuns have traditionally ruled Afghanistan, and many were appalled at the idea that a Tajik could be their next president, even if his father was Pashtun.Voters interviewed in Tajik areas on Saturday were nearly uniform in their support for Mr. Abdullah. In Pashtun areas, most said they supported Mr. Ghani because he was one of them. Pashtuns have traditionally ruled Afghanistan, and many were appalled at the idea that a Tajik could be their next president, even if his father was Pashtun.
“Let me be clear,” said Qari Sayyed Ummar Hotak, a provincial council member from Kabul overseeing a local polling center in a Pashtun enclave of the city. “Most of the votes here will be for Ashraf Ghani.”“Let me be clear,” said Qari Sayyed Ummar Hotak, a provincial council member from Kabul overseeing a local polling center in a Pashtun enclave of the city. “Most of the votes here will be for Ashraf Ghani.”
Mohammad Wali, an elderly man, seated by the entrance to the polling center, was even more explicit. “As a Pashtun, I will vote for Ashraf Ghani,” Mr. Wali said. Mohammad Wali, an elderly man seated by the entrance to the polling center, was even more explicit. “As a Pashtun, I will vote for Ashraf Ghani,” Mr. Wali said.