Afghans Concerned about Their Future after Elections

"With foreign troops leaving next year, many are worried about their future in the hands of the next Afghan president."

33-year-old Hedayat Alla Mujadedi is a shopkeeper in Kabul.

He prefers the current political situation, compared to when the country was ruled by the Taliban or torn by civil war.

But he’s worried about the future of Afghanistan after the elections next year.

“President Karzai is moderate and can reconcile most of the tribes,” says Hedayat.

“But I don’t know,” as he looks worried,”Will the next president be able to the same or not?”

“Some of the people who have nominated themselves have power and money, and some of them are war criminals or were involved in the civil war. And foreign forces will withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014. This could affect the situation in our country.”

The presidential election is set for April next year.

It will be the first independent vote organised by Afghanistan, without direct foreign assistance.

And 27 presidential candidates have registered - a mix of Afghan’s past and current power players, warlords with a tainted history, technocrats and some political outsiders.

Among the well known candidates is former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah.  He was close to the legendary guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Masood, who was killed in 2001.

His running mate is engineer Muhammad Khan.

“We have a very effective plan on how to develop our country – in health, peace, education, relationships with other countries and other sectors. We will also focus on combating insecurity and corruption. I’m sure when corrupt people are punished, corruption will be eradicated.”

Another candidate is Jihadi leader Rasoul Sayaf.

Several investigations, including one by Human Rights Watch, have accused him of being responsible for war crimes in the early 1990s.

He says he wants to serve his people.

“We want to work for this country and unite the different tribes. I’m not saying that I’m the best, but it’s my right to work for my people and ask for their votes. We have a plan to stop the country grieving the loss of its fathers. I hope people will vote for me. And I will try to serve them and bring security.”

Election watchdog, the Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan, will closely monitor the voting, says its head Jandad Spinghar.

“If the election is transparent  and well organised, most people will respect the result and it will have legitimacy among the people. The government can solve the current problems. Otherwise the elections will lead the country into a huge crisis. We’re encouraging people to participate in the elections and be responsible for their own country.”

Under Taliban rule 14 years ago, girls were not allowed to study.

But with the support of the international community, according to the Ministry of Education some 4 million girls can now get an education.

23-year-old Dina Muhibi used to be one of them. She’s now studying Persian literature at university.

“Now girls can go to school or university, and work outside of their homes. The situation is very different from before. We hope that the next president can maintain things as they are and even make them better, not make conditions worse.”

• Afgan
• election
• presidential candidate
• women freedom
• Ghayor Waziri