The campaign for the April 05 presidential elections in Afghanistan has begun amidst polls-related violence in one hand and perennial fighting in the country involving the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and government troops with the Islamic militants, on the other. The electorate will choose a successor to President Hamid Karzai who, after two terms in office, cannot contest any longer under the constitution. The main aspirant for the position is former foreign minister Abullah Abdullah, who came second after Karzai in the chaotic and fraud-riddled last elections.
The campaign began on a disconcerting note as two members of Abdullah's team were shot dead by the gunmen in the western Herat city, signalling mayhem in the run up to the polls.
Even though the United States and other NATO allies are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the current year, it appears that the war-ravaged country remains volatile raising doubts about the planned withdrawal of "foreign" troops by that time. Fighting between the Islamic militants and the NATO and the Kabul government continues to be a regular feature. Violence is only making things difficult for President Karzai who wants the foreign troops leave but is also wary about the security of the country after their departure. Details of the withdrawal of foreign troops have not been finalised as the Kabul authorities are in odds with the NATO on certain matters.
The combatants of the warring factions in Afghanistan have no time for respite from fighting. In fact, the Islamic militants in one side, and the Afghan government and NATO troops, on the other, are engaged in bigger skirmishes these days as the seasonal handicaps and odds are no deterrent for them. The two sides, unwilling to bend, have stepped up activities in the battles as US President Barack Obama has reiterated that American and other foreign forces, barring a small number of soldiers to look after emergency conditions, are expected to leave Afghanistan by the end of this year.
Two sides are engaged in the long-drawn battle across the country and both claim successes in their fighting. While the fight is a normal on-going occurrence, the Islamic militants, known as Talebans, have of late intensified their attack against what they call "occupation force and their lackeys". The expressions are euphemism for the NATO forces and their allies, the Afghan government troops. The militants have launched some daring attacks in recent times to mount pressure on their opponents to quit Afghanistan. One of their leaders boasted that no foreign troops can stay in their country for too long for their own safety. The NATO and the Afghan forces are taking no chances and are preparing for any situation, particularly during the current season. As the season changes, "we have more fighting than other times", says Afghan defence ministry spokesman Major General Zahir Azimi. A military spokesman of the NATO also echoed the same views. The NATO and the Kabul government foresee quick fall in the intensity of the war in the coming days as they feel things are going in their ways.
The NATO, led by the world's only super power United States, plans to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan by 2014 and the security of the country would be handed over to the Afghan government authorities. Nonetheless, the nature of militant attacks raises a question: whether cessation of the war would be possible by that time and the Kabul government troops would be able to withstand the assaults of the militants. The NATO says it would be possible to quit the war-ravaged country by the timeframe set by them. However, the Americans say they would not fully abandon the Kabul government and would continue to assist it in many ways. The NAO members having troops in Afghanistan have varying views of the conflict and the presence of their respective troops.
Presidential hopeful Abdullah Abdullah said that a bilateral security agreement with the United States would allow 10,000 American troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014. His rivals in the elections include academic Ashraf Ghani, former Uzbek war-lord Abdur Rashid Dostum and ethnic Hazara tribal chieftain Sarwar Danish. They have not clearly spelt out their positions on the presence of foreign troops after the current year. This is an issue on which the country is divided. Another issue that is also being hotly discussed in the country is the dialogue with the Talebans for a negotiated settlement of the long conflict. Some quarters are favouring the talks while others oppose it.
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