 RFE/RL Afghanistan Report 8/20/2009 2:18:09 PM A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Afghanistan.For more stories on Afghanistan, please visit and bookmark our Afghanistan page . |
 Afghans Voting, Despite Sporadic Violence After a slow start, voting is picking up across Afghanistan for presidential and provincial council elections, despite reports of scattered violence aimed at disrupting the poll. More  Afghan Elections Primer Afghans go to the polls on August 20 to choose a president and members of 34 provincial councils. But all eyes within and outside the country will be on whether the presidential selection will go to a second round. More  A Woman's Role Alongside the presidential vote, Afghans head to the polls today to elect provincial councils. Over 300 women across the country are defying Taliban threats and challenging tradition by running for seats, including one who dresses as a man and carries a gun while campaigning. More  The Perils Of The Afghan Media Ban The United Nations has asked the Afghan government to lift its ban on media reports about violent attacks during presidential and provincial council elections on August 20. The central government would be well-advised to do so. More  Why Helmand Is Afghanistan's Litmus Test As Afghans vote today in presidential and provincial elections, eyes are turning to restive Helmand Province. Considered home to the Taliban insurgency and drug trade, the fate of elections there could determine the ultimate success or failure of stabilization efforts in the country. More  Controversial General Raising Hopes, Hackles On the eve of Afghanistan's presidential and regional elections, one of the country's most notorious militia commanders has emerged from exile. General Abdul Rashid Dostum's return to Afghanistan, where the ethnic Uzbek boasts a significant following, is seen as a boost to incumbent President Hamid Karzai's reelection chances. But the accusations of widespread human rights abuses that led to Dostum's exile in Turkey remain. More  Obama Defends Afghan Strategy, Says 'Won't Be Quick' U.S. President Barack Obama has said the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan will not be quick or easy but that the war is necessary to protect Americans from terrorist attacks. Obama spoke to 5,000 U.S. military veterans and their families just days before Afghans go to the polls for provincial and presidential elections in an atmosphere of escalating violence. More  Experts, Everyday Afghans React To Debate Millions of Afghans tuned in to watch a televised debate between President Hamid Karzai and two of his main challengers in this week's election. Following the landmark event, co-sponsored by RFE/RL, we asked experts and ordinary Afghans around the country for their reactions. More  Karzai Confident Of Election Victory In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, Afghan President Hamid Karzai defends his record over the past eight years, including his deals with regional strongmen and warlords, and says he is confident of reelection to another five-year term on August 20. More  Tajik-Afghan Prisoner Exchange Still On Hold A Tajik-Afghan agreement on a prisoner exchange signed last year has still not been implemented, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. More  Candidates Face Off In a live television debate in Kabul, organized under the auspices of RFE/RL, Afghan President Hamid Karzai received staunch challenges from two of his main opponents in next week's presidential election. More  NATO Focuses On Security Amid Taliban Threats With a Taliban suicide attack hitting Kabul this weekend, there are renewed fears about security ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election. While security has been a key focus of NATO and Afghan government troops, Taliban militants have waged their own campaign of threats and intimidation. More  Pacifying Pashtun Borderlands Pakistan's beleaguered western Pashtun border region is often in the headlines. The still unconfirmed death of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud created immense international media attention. More  Justice Shouldn’t Be The Loser In Afghan Elections As the countdown toward election day in Afghanistan gets started, the Afghan people are enduring a new surge in armed violence and a growing sense of disenchantment. More  Presidential Contender Takes Message To The People While most Afghan presidential contenders campaign from fortified headquarters or travel in armored cars with gun-toting bodyguards, one candidate is getting his message out to remote corners of Afghanistan in a rickety minibus. Meet Ramzan Bashardost -- according to the polls, the third most popular candidate among the 35 contenders. More  Despite Failings, Karzai Hangs On To Front-Runner Status Peace, reconciliation, and economic development are the key themes of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reelection manifesto. Unlike his challengers, he has the arduous task of defending his past performance and selling his future vision to an increasingly skeptical Afghan electorate. More  Abdullah Abdullah: Karzai's Main Challenger On a bright summer day, amid the towering mountains surrounding the Panjshir valley north of Kabul, locals recently voiced their support for Abdullah Abdullah. More |
