Afghan chaos growing Options

[ghostgovt]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/afgh-s20.shtml

Afghanistan election: a mockery of democracy
By Peter Symonds
20 September 2005

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With the US-led occupation of Iraq sinking further into the quagmire, determined efforts have been made by the Bush administration and the international media to present last Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Afghanistan in the best possible light.

US President Bush hailed the poll as “a major step forward” for the country’s democratic process. British Prime Minister Tony Blair sounded a similar note, congratulating “the people of Afghanistan for turning out in such numbers” despite Taliban threats. EU external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner pronounced the election to be “a further milestone on the road to peace and stability”.

The international press dutifully followed suit with headlines declaring the election to be “a historic step” or “a milestone” and praising the Afghan people for “defying”, “braving” or “refusing to be deterred” by Taliban threats of violence.

Washington is no more creating peace, democracy and stability through its military occupation of Afghanistan than it is in Iraq. The presence of 30,000 US and allied troops in Afghanistan precluded any genuine democratic choice by the country’s voters. The election was staged, with the blessings of the UN, to provide a democratic figleaf for the regime in Kabul and to further entrench the position of Washington’s puppet—President Hamid Karzai.

Under the Afghan constitution, in which Washington had a major hand in drafting, the lower parliamentary house or Wolesi Jirga has limited powers to initiate legislation and to review the budget and government policy. Power is concentrated overwhelmingly in the hands of the president who heads the cabinet and the military, and can appoint and dismiss all ministers, judges and senior officials.

Despite the ineffectual character of the Wolesi Jirga, Karzai was determined to ensure that the body would be in no position to challenge his administration. Against the opposition of UN advisers and most diplomats, he insisted on an electoral system that undermined political parties and thus the ability for an opposition to emerge.

None of the 5,800 candidates for the Wolesi Jirga or provincial councils were able to identify themselves with a party on the ballot. Furthermore, the voting system based on a single non-transferable vote (SNTV) virtually ruled out the organisation of party slates. The consequence was a farce, particularly in a country where a large segment of voters are illiterate and thus reliant on identifying candidates by symbol. In Kabul, for instance, voters were confronted with a seven-page ballot paper with 390 names and symbols arbitrarily chosen by lot.

The election result will inevitably be a deeply-divided parliament dominated by “independents” chosen on the basis of local loyalties rather than policies. With Washington’s backing and control of the purse strings, Karzai has clearly calculated that such a body would be more malleable. Commenting on Karzai’s insistence on the SNTV system, a diplomat told a Sydney Morning Herald correspondent: “He wouldn’t budge. He claims he can manage a big bunch of independents, and the shifting coalitions they will form, better than a small group of parties who will work the parliament.”

[Marine]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/afgh-s20.shtml

Afghanistan election: a mockery of democracy
By Peter Symonds
20 September 2005

Yeah, everythining is a mockery to those folks.

This post has been edited by Marine: Sep 20 2005, 12:27 PM

[Marine]

Over 1,000 bombs seized in Kunar


ASADABAD, September 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Officials in the eastern Kunar province Tuesday said they had seized 1,150 bombs and arrested two people.

The bombs were captured while three people were trying to cross a river from Sarkano district into Shorik area. It seemed to be remote-controlled and powerful devices, officials said.

Kunar governor Asadullah Wafa told Pajhwok Afghan News three people of the Manogai district were located by police while crossing a river along with the explosive devices packed in bags.

As police approached them, they opened fire. After exchange of fire for some time, police succeeded in detaining two of the criminals while their third colleague managed to escape. A number of fuses and 10 bundles of wire were also been recovered from the sacks.

Elsewhere in Jalalabad, capital of the neighbouring Nangarhar province, police recovered and later defused two missiles fitted to target the city. Press officer for Nangarhar police Abdul Ghafar told Pajhwok Afghan News the missiles were fitted on top of a hill in Lalma area of the Chaparhar district.

Two rockets were fired on the city early morning hitting information and culture department and a residential house in Mandai area. One security guard was injured in the attack and vote counting was suspended for security reasons.

Faridullah Hassam and Ezatullah Zawab

jh/by/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1106

[ghostgovt]

Yeah, everythining is a mockery to those folks.

Truth blows your cover doesn't it?

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/...ent_3516050.htm

KABUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The counting of legislative polls would be postponed in Jalalabad, the capital city of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, as two rockets hit the city early Tuesday morning, an Afghan official said.

One rocket hit the culture and information department around 6:20 a.m. this morning, two policemen were injured during the blast, Khalilullah Ziaee, police chief of Nangarhar province, told Xinhua.

Another rocket exploded in a resident area but causing no casualty, he added.

Due to security reasons, the counting of legislative polls, which is set to start from Tuesday, would be postponed in the city, said the police officer.

No one has claimed the responsibility for the attacks so far.

On Monday, a UN vehicle carrying ballot boxes was hit by roadside bomb in the Khogiani district of Nangarhar province, but the ballot boxes were undamaged.

[ghostgovt]

Another failed BushCo adventure turning sour. Wait until we can't pump $millions and $billions into these countries to get foreign relation's welcome mat photo ops for disguising all that wonderful Western Democracy success.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050920/ap_on_...HE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Karzai Wants End to U.S.-Led Operations

By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press WriterTue Sep 20,10:47 AM ET

President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday challenged the need for major foreign military operations in Afghanistan, saying air strikes are no longer effective and that U.S.-led coalition forces should focus on rooting out terror bases and support networks.

Karzai also demanded an immediate end to foreign troops searching people's homes without his government's authorization.

"I don't think there is a big need for military activity in Afghanistan anymore," he told reporters in Kabul. "The nature of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan has changed now.

"No coalition forces should go to Afghan homes without the authorization of the Afghan government. ... The use of air power is something that may not be very effective now."

In suggesting a new approach to fighting militants, Karzai said foreign governments should "concentrate on where terrorists are trained, on their bases, on the supply to them, on the money coming to them" — a veiled reference to alleged support that the militants get from neighboring Pakistan.

Afghan officials have repeatedly accused Pakistan of aiding Taliban rebels and other militants, a charge Islamabad vehemently denies.

Karzai's comments came amid the biggest resurgence in Taliban violence since U.S.-led forces ousted the hard-line regime in 2001. More than 1,200 people have been killed in the past six months, many of them suspected rebels slain in coalition air strikes, according to information from Afghan and U.S. officials.

[Marine]

Afghan female athletes leave for Iran


KABUL, September 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Afghan female athletes Tuesday left for Iran to participate in the fourth round of Daha-i-Fajir competitions scheduled to begin from September 22.

Female athletes from 27 other Islamic countries would join the event which would be held in Tehran, capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Shamsul Hayat Alam, chief of the Afghan Female National Olympic Committee told Pajhwok Afghan News the 15-day competitions would continue till the sixth of next month.

Afghan athletes will participate in taekwondo, karate, volleyball, badminton, swimming, and a number of other competitions.

A team comprising 27 Afghan female athletes including a coach and a trainer will join the event from Afghanistan, while 29 other immigrant Afghan females living in Iran, will also take part in the games. Afghan athletes will open their day with badminton, volleyball and judo, competitions.

Frozen Danish Rahmani

aqm/r/amm/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1092

[Marine]

Ten injured in Kunar mishap


ASADABAD, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Ten people were wounded as a passenger vehicle flipped over in the Watapur district of the eastern Kunar province on Wednesday morning.

The mishap occurred due to failure of the tie-rod of the ill-fated vehicle. The pick-up swerved off the road and overturned resulting in injury to the passengers.

Witnesses said the vehicle was on way from Deozee area to Watapur when it met the accident in the Chaghan area. The injured also included two women.

The wounded have been rushed to Asadabad civil hospital where condition of two of the injured is stated to be serious. Asadullah Afzali, head of the public health department, said two injured, including a woman were in serious condition.

Hafizullah, one of the wounded, said the accident happened as tie-rod of the speedy vehicle was broken.
Faridullah Hassam

jh/by/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1132

[Marine]

Road tragedy claims 10 lives in Kunduz


KUNDUZ CITY, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): At least 10 people were killed and six others sustained injuries when a private vehicle plunged into a ditch on Kunduz-Imam Sahib highway on Tuesday afternoon.

The victims also included five children and two women. The Surf jeep was on way from Imam Sahib to Kunduz City. The accident happened when the driver tried to avoid a bicycle.

Thirteen passengers were traveling in the vehicle. The injured were ferried to a hospital in Kunduz, where their condition is stated to be out of danger.

Dr Humayun Khamosh, a doctor at the hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News four children died on the spot, while a woman and another child succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

An officer of the traffic police Colonel Mohammad Naeem said the dead included five children, two women and three men, adding the tragedy happened on Kunduz-Imam Sahib highway.

Ainuddin (40), a resident of Kunduz city, said the vehicle first hit their bike and then skidded off the road and fell into a ditch. About 300 traffic accidents have so far been registered in Kunduz during the current year, killing 28 people.

Rohullah Arman

sh/amm/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1156

[Marine]

Two-year ban slapped on players visiting Pakistan


KABUL, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Afghanistan Cricket Federation Wednesday slapped a two-year ban on players who visited Pakistan's Karachi for cricket competitions without prior permission.

A cricket team, including some Under-19 players, is visiting Karachi to play matches with some local teams there. Led by Khaliqdad Nuri, the squad disguised as official team of Afghanistan.

However, secretary general of Afghanistan Cricket Federation Taj Malook told Pajhwok Afghan News they did not represent Afghanistan. He said the ban had been imposed on all those players during an emergency meeting of the federation.

"They didn't inform the concerned authorities before leaving for Pakistan, neither have they represented the Afghanistan Cricket Federation," Taj Malook clarified.

The federation's advisor Allah Dad Nuri, when approached for comments, said they had also informed the Afghanistan Olympic Committee to take serious steps in recalling the team.

He added the team also included some Under-19 players of the national squad and they too would be disallowed to take part in any national or international competition.

Chief advisor of the Afghanistan Olympic Committee Din Mohammad Safi told this scribe the committee was going to dispatch a message to cricket authorities in Pakistan about the players, who presented themselves as official squad of Afghanistan.

He said they would also consult the Foreign Affairs Ministry as to how the players managed to go into another country without permission from the authorities concerned.



http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1162

[Marine]

Lagham turn out exceeds last year presidential polls


MEHTARLAM, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) Wednesday said the turn out in the eastern Laghman province remained seven per cent more than last year's presidential elections.

Gayatri, a JEMB official in the province, told Pajhwok Afghan News the voting ratio of women was far better than men at Qarghayee and Alingar districts. He added 2,300 eligible nomads also used their right to vote there.

Counting had been started on Wednesday afternoon here, he said, adding three ballot boxes had yet to arrive from some remote areas.

Revealing the cause behind suspension of ballot counting for a day, a polling official in Daulat Shah district, who opted not to be named, said a security officer mistreated Adbullah, an officer of the JEMB at the regional centre which led to the delay.



Reported by Abdul Moeed & translated by Rahman


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1165

[Marine]

Pakistan seeks renewal of Durand Line agreement


ISLAMABAD, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A senior official of the Pakistani government Wednesday dropped the border fencing proposal floated by President Musharraf but asked for renewal of the Durand Line agreement between the neighbours.

Speaking at a news conference, Governor of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province Commander Khalilur Rehman said the fencing was impracticable and unacceptable to tribal living on both sides of the divide.

Instead, the two countries should renew the Durand Line Agreement first, which had been expired, suggested the governor. The step would pave way for fencing the border, Rehman said, adding he had also deliberated on the issue with the president.

"After renewal of the accord, we hope the tribal people living on the two sides will not object to the fencing," said Khalilur Rehman, who is representing the centre in NWFP, which is ruled by a six-party religious alliance.

Discussing the Sunday's parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, which unexpectedly remained peaceful, Khalilur Rehman opined the attacks were made by fugitive warlord Gulbadin Hekmatyar.

"Hekmatyar and his allies are fully aware of the fact that there will be no place for them in Afghanistan once democracy takes roots there," the governor said, adding: "This is why they often try to sabotage the peace."

Pakhtun Sahar

by/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1166

[Marine]

Ballot counting starts in Nangarhar


JALALBAD, September 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Vote counting was resumed in the eastern Nangarhar province which was suspended after a rocket attack on Tuesday morning.

Officials said although ballot boxes had yet to arrive from the remote Nuristan and Kunar provinces in the regional centre but the process had been launched. Kunar and Nuristan are the two provinces where count centres had not been established.

An official of the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) told Pajhwok Afghan News not a single box had reached to the regional centre from Nuristan province, while ballot boxes from only four of the 10 centre from Kunar had arrived here.

Hidayatullah, a JEMB official, said the boxes delivery had been delayed because they would be first collected in the provincial centres and then would be transported to the regional centre at Jalalabad.

Khalilullah Ziai, police chief of Nangarhar, said security had been beefed up in the city and ballot boxes from far-off areas would be received later in the day.

Muhammad Iqbal, a hopeful for the Wolesi Jirga seat, said the late arrival of vote boxes at the regional centres was mounting suspicions about the transparency of the whole process.

Ezatullah Zawab

rh/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1167

[Marine]

JEMB says voters turn out remained 53 per cent


KABUL, September 22 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) has said that countrywide turnout remained 53 per cent during the Sunday's polls.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, JEMB operation chief Peter Erben said a total of 43 per cent female and 57 per cent male electorates used their right to vote.

He said in Kabul, 36 per cent voted which he said was less than some of the remote provinces, where people are little educated and have comparatively little knowledge of the electoral process.

He said 95 per cent ballot boxes had been collected from all across the country and the figures based on those ballots showed that 53 per cent people used their right to vote.

Peter Erben said ratio of female voting remained encouraging in Laghman and Takhar provinces. He said although ballot boxes from some areas in Daikundi, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Ghazni, Nuristan and and Kunar provinces were yet to arrive, polling had already been launched in the respective regional polling centres.

He said of the 12.4 million registered voters in Afghanistan, 6.6 million voted while among them were 43 per cent female candidates.

Asked about the delay in transportation of ballot boxes, Peter Erben said it was caused by logistic problems. He said it was affected by transport problems and remoteness of the polling stations.

He said some more days will be required to deliver ballot boxes from Nuristan province to the regional centre set up for counting in Nangarhar.

Regarding the polling results, he said while the final results would be declared on October 22, it would be displayed on daily basis from the next week at the regional centres.

He said each observer would be given two hours to observe the counting. To a question the JEMB official said as ballot boxes had been received from almost all areas, it would accelerate the counting process.

Reported by Makia Monir and translated by Daud


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1192

[ghostgovt]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050922/ap_on_...ghan_us_taliban

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Responding to complaints by
Afghanistan's president, a top U.S. general said Thursday that airstrikes have been decisive against insurgents and that American troops usually search homes jointly with Afghan soldiers.


Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, the U.S.-led coalition's operational commander, said American forces need air power as they expect to be battling Taliban rebels well into next year after fierce fighting that killed more than 1,200 people in the six months before Sunday's election.

President Bush expressed similar sentiments in Washington, saying the 18,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan have not finished the mission that began with the ouster of the Taliban regime in late 2001. "There are still terrorists who seek to overthrow the young government," he said.

Their comments appeared at odds with President Hamid Karzai, who on Tuesday questioned the need for major military operations by foreign troops, saying his government did not think a "serious terrorist challenge" remained. He also said airstrikes were no longer effective.

Karzai said the U.S.-led coalition should focus "on where terrorists are trained, on their bases" — a veiled reference to support that Afghan militants allegedly get in neighboring Pakistan.

But Kamiya told reporters at Bagram, the U.S. military headquarters in Afghanistan, that while "part of the problem may extend from Pakistan," the insurgency is largely fueled internally.

Widespread poverty and a lack of government authority in rural areas have prompted youths to join the insurgents, he said. Until reconstruction projects bring jobs and other opportunities and the rule of law prevails, the violence will persist, he said.

[Marine]

People stopped from staging protest on fencing issue


KABUL, September 22 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Officials in the southern Zabul stopped people who want to carry out protest rallies and stage demonstration against remarks of Pakistani authorities regarding border fencing with Afghanistan.

Pakistan Pervez Musharraf floated the suggestion of fencing the 2,400-kilometre porous border to end the blame-game between the two countries once and for all.

Gulab Shah Alikhel, spokesman for Zabul governor, said the government blocked the people from staging protest demonstration to avoid any untoward incident.

Tough security measures had been adopted across the country to discourage insurgents from carrying out attacks to disrupt the elections or counting process which is presently underway in 32 provinces.

He said they feared if the Pakistani authorities continued with their fencing rhetoric, it might cause unrest in the province, which is in proximity with Pakistan.

He said people of the bordering provinces had rejected the fencing proposal but they banned them for fear that Taliban might not cash the opportunity to carry out terrorist attacks.

Reported by Aziz Zahid

rh/dk


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1212

[ghostgovt]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/23/opinion/edborde.php


The Taliban loom once more as a threat

Constance Borde and Patricia Lalonde International Herald Tribune

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2005

KABUL Last Sunday, more than 50 percent of the Afghan population braved threats from the Taliban and other Islamic fundamentalist groups to vote for the 249 members of Parliament whom they hope will make their dream of a democratic future a reality. The votes are being counted now and - given the demographic and logistic complications - final results will come in within three weeks or a month.

The elections were immediately hailed as a success by the United States and by the international news media. But there were inherent problems in the process that led up to that election, which reflect deep problems in the country itself. It is important for the international community to recognize this.


But dangers lurk. In Afghanistan, you also see a lot of Taliban. Some are still insurgents killing candidates and threatening voters, some have been liberated from Guantánamo and welcomed in Kabul under the so-called "national reconciliation" program, and some of the worst perpetrators are even running for seats.

National reconciliation is a necessity, but it is a grand process that doesn't take place overnight by simply declaring it. In South Africa, national reconciliation was part of an enormous country-wide movement, structured around months of hearings and manifestations, of testimonies and even emotional celebrations. None of this took place in Afghanistan.

Most people - including those from the former Northern Alliance, who fought the Russians and the Taliban and helped the United States topple the Taliban - support President Hamid Karzai. But they are fearful of a Taliban comeback.

Citizens across the country share this fear, and question what the president and current government has done to protect Afghanistan from a return to the fundamentalism that held them hostage for so long. And people around the world who were radically affected by the violent terrorism that came out of Afghanistan should be asking why Afghanistan is once again facing this horrendous fate.

This deep concern is implicitly tied to another fundamental, electoral one: transparency. Yunus Qanooni, a Tajik and a moderate man with an educated wife, is becoming the main democratic opponent to Karzai. He wants to play the game of democracy and follow all its rules, but he fears election fraud and the influence of the Taliban. He is vastly popular and many share his fears, but he and others have been prevented from expressing their views on these subjects.

Five months ago, Qanooni asked the government three things: to accept that people of all parties be designated to follow the ballots boxes during their transport to the tallying places; to appoint a committee that could be alerted at any moment during the whole process to supervise the regularity of the elections; and to see that no one could be a candidate if it was proved he had perpetrated atrocities with the Taliban. But the Joint Elections Management Board refused all these points.

The Karzai government and the Bush administration, who have a say in the election board's decisions, have a short-sighted view of the situation. Are they trying to buy an appearance of peace by allowing the reintroduction of Islamic radicals in Afghanistan? Can you trust the good faith of the Taliban and Islamic radicals, simply by proclaiming "national reconciliation"? As renewed violence spreads across Afghanistan, isn't it clear that this tactic has already failed?

For now, America and the Afghan government still have the support of the Afghan people. But they will lose faith if they don't step up to the plate now with qualified inspectors to assure the fairness of the election count and if they don't recognize the dangerous role that Islamic radicals could play in the new government.

Afghans know that the Taliban are on the threshold of taking power again. European experts and news media are observing the same phenomenon. Why can't the United States face this fact squarely?

Emma Bonino, a former European commissioner who was sent as an observer during the elections by the European Union, has said she was concerned "that this election was not going to produce a sustainable form of debate and a healthy political life." Bonino is being diplomatic in her statement. But the message is there for us all to hear. Afghan voices from within the country are more wrought with anxiety. Is anyone hearing them?

[Marine]

Uruzgan battle leaves 10 Taliban dead


KABUL, September 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Ten insurgents were killed as coalition forces backed by attack helicopters pounded a militant hideout north of the Deh Rahod district of the volatile Uruzgan, said a press release issued from the US Bagram airbase on Friday.

This is the bloodiest encounter between coalition forces and the rebels after the Sunday's elections. The release said an Afghan National Army soldier was killed while one US service member wounded in the operation.

The injured soldier was evacuated to a nearby medical facility where his condition is stated to be out of danger, said the press release. The coalition and Afghan forces were still in the area and assessing the situation.

A joint patrol comprising the ANA and coalition forces was searching the area when they came under attack from a group of militants using heavy machineguns, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades.

The coalition and Afghan forces retaliated and called air support. The fight continued for several hours leaving 10 Taliban dead. An Afghan soldier also killed while a US soldier sustained injuries.

The coalition forces air strikes came at a time when Afghan President Hamid Karzai had called for an end to unauthorised searches and air raids by coalition just two days back. In an instant reaction, a top coalition officer in Afghanistan justified the air raids saying the strikes had been proved decisive in curbing insurgency.

Meanwhile, a senior official in Uruzgan said the fight erupted after reports that a key Taliban commander Mulla Dadullah, along with some 20 Taliban, was hiding in the area.

However, coalition forces did not confirmed the presence of any Taliban commander. But said the number of attacking guerillas was around 20.

Taliban confirmed the clash but denied the number of casualties. The militia's purported spokesman Latifullah Hakimi said only six fighters had been killed. He added six US and 10 government soldiers had also been killed in the clash that occurred on Thursday.



Reported by Daud Khan


http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=1218

[ghostgovt]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/...ent_3526235.htm

MADRID, Sept. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced Wednesday that all the 500 Spanish troops on humanitarian mission in Afghanistan will be brought home by Oct. 12.

Addressing the parliament, Rodriguez Zapatero said the withdrawal began on Sept. 21 because the troops have accomplished their mission including protecting the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections from disruption in the Asian country.

Mourning the death of 17 Spanish soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in August in Afghanistan, Rodriguez Zapatero said they sacrificed their lives for the UN mission.

[Marine]

EUP team calls Afghan legislative vote a success


Pajhwok Report

KABUL, (Pajhwok Afghan News): A six-member European Union Parliamentary (EUP) team Monday described Afghanistan's legislative election as a success and pledged long-term support to the Karzai-led government.

Robert Ewnis, head of EUP delegation that arrived here earlier in the week to observe the landmark parliamentary elections, made the observation at a meeting with President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace here.

In a press statement issued after the meeting, Robert Ewnis said the polls - held in a peaceful manner - were a success of the Afghan government. The six-member team, which visited a number of polling stations, said the elections were held in a free, fair and transparent fashion.

Karzai thanked the EUP delegation for its all-out support to his government in organising the legislative elections, which took place without any major disruptions despite threats of violence from insurgents.

Robert Ewnis assured Karzai of full assistance to the parliament coming into being as a result of the legislative ballot, in which more than 50 percent of Afghans turned out to vote.




http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?id=1056

[Marine]

Pakistan hails elections in Afghanistan


ISLAMABAD, (Pajhwok Afghan News): Pakistan has voiced its pleasure over the 'successful' holding of key legislative elections in Afghanistan, hoping the vote would pave the ground for peace and stability in the region.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, commenting on the landmark ballot that passed off peacefully despite threats of attacks from Taliban, lauded on Monday Afghans' participation in the polling.

"The polls represent an important step towards democracy in Afghanistan and they will bring in their wake peace and stability," the minister said in a press statement.

He greeted the Afghan government, led by President Karzai, and the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) for peacefully organising the parliamentary elections in the face of warnings from Taliban and other miscreants to disrupt the democratic exercise.

"The high voter turnout is reflective of the trust Afghans repose in the incumbent government and the system it has put in place," said the interior minister, who sounded optimistic of the war-weary nation's transition to democracy.



Reported by Pakhtun Sahar & translated by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?id=1040