To call Afghan Elections of August 20, the second of its kind in the history of this landlocked nation, the Election of chance and choice won’t be far from exaggeration. It can’t be called like the American elections an election of hope versus despair on many grounds. Calling it an election of choice and chance, it’s probably the only election in the world where about 40 unpopular candidates battle for the highest post of a country. Since none stood out as a favorite candidate, it was simply an election of choice for the voters and chance for the candidates. From amongst all these candidates three stood out with mentionable amount of votes standing at the first three positions while the overwhelming majority disappeared from the scene immediately. Of course they were ashamed to call themselves national leader as they couldn’t bag even a single percent vote. In most parts the voters, who turned out in enough numbers to legitimize the vote defying threats from Taliban, knew none of the candidates except two or three of them.
In these elections initially 41 candidates had annexed their chance to see who votes for them. The number was reduced to 36 by the Election Commission. Therefore, 36 candidates brought in their full power each claiming to be the best of the best and the most deserving candidate to be voted for. This time like its western counterparts, Afghan media channels convened Election Debates where each candidate tried to overpower the other. In a land of men, interestingly two women candidates also took their chance to battle for every vote. Right from the beginning in a popular election with unpopular candidates, three candidates stood out strikingly as the most potential candidates to be the next national leader. They were incumbent President Humid Karzai, Former Foreign minister and one time spokesperson of Mujahideen leader Ahmad Shah Masoud Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and Former Finance Minister and Kabul University Chancellor Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
Like any democracy claims of deals, rigging, and fraud starting coming in much before the Elections. Everyone would raise fingers at the incumbent President and to some extent to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah for trying to use governmental machinery for the services of their own campaign. However, all such claims fell on deaf ears. Now, the post-elections scenario has it totally different from what was expected.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was deemed by world powers and media as one of the strongest candidates since he had affiliations with the country’s largest Pashtoon tribe, Ahmadzai Tribe. He was also reportedly backed by the US. However, his performance in the elections has been a shameful one. He stands no where on the list of toppers. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has performed well. It was expected of him to give Karzai a tough time. He nearly did so but his attempt was not good enough to unseat the incumbent President. Hamid Karzai did very well. He was very unpopular only a couple of months before the elections because of his policies during the last four years but he played his cards very tactically. He got on board ex-Mujahideen leaders, tribal chiefs, clerics and representatives of different ethnic groups. For example, he replaced his first vice Ahmad Zia Masoud by Muhammad Qaseem Faheem by doing so to a large extent he kept the Tajik ethnic votes for him. He allied with Hazara ethnic groups by taking on his side his second vice Karim Khalili and Mohaqiq of Hizb-e-Wahdat, which is a dominantly Shia hazara party. He signed a controversial Shia personal law and that benefited him in terms of Shia population vote. He called back exiled Uzbek commander Abdul Rasheed Dostum who campaigned for him in his area of influence. Though Karzai knew his every action right from the selection of Qaseem Faheem to signing the controversial law and to bringing back Rasheed Dostum would bring international criticism but he knew the only way back to the presidency was to do all these necessary things first.
He also cleverly went on with using his influence and authority in many cases, as per the reports of Independent Election Commission, to get votes cast in his favor. He also played well with the Election Commission. EC first announced the 91% tallied votes that give Karzai relief since he has banked the largest proportion of counted votes i.e., 54% and then started with the affairs of investigating widespread rigging.
A country marked by 30 years of civil war and continuous foreign interference Afghanistan is now heading towards seeing again a leader who has earned the reputation of “a loyal puppet of the west”. Though by all meanings he fits this definition yet he is and was the best choice for Afghans due to many reasons. Afghans can’t believe Mujahideen or their government since they very badly failed to form a government in 1990’s. They don’t understand nor have the capacity to respect internationally sponsored talks and agreements. They don’t have the tolerance to be accountable to the nation. They lack credibility because of their past history while Karzai with all his activities, strengths, weaknesses, popularity, unpopularity is better known to the public. He has been able to rebuild a nation right from the scratch. Though his achievements aren’t extraordinary or upto the standard the world had expected yet he remains the best choice since he does have the ability to convince donors and donor agencies to work for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is politically not at a position to bring forth a leader who is known to every afghan equally the same. In fact, Abdullah Abdullah is not known to nearly anyone in the south. Bashardost who did exceptionally well by gaining 9% votes which wasn’t expected of him is known only to Kabul and provinces where Media and news channels function. Further, traditionally Afghans don’t like change. They vote to the person who is known to them in anyway. The King of Afghanistan who defeated the Britishers in 1919 Amanullah Khan, impressed by the development of the west, tried to introduce land reforms, social reforms and educational reforms. Though he was the most popular leader of his time, he was replaced by a King named Habibullah popular to Afghans as “Bachay Saqaw…son of water carrier” with least educational background and professionally a caravan looter.
The hue and cry which finds media hype these days will soon diminish since Afghans are still not ready for any sort of an abrupt change. To common Afghans what have these complainants done? When they were in power what changes did they introduce into the lives of Afghans? On the other hand, with all his weaknesses and failures in Karzai common Afghans still see in him peace and stability. In him they still see development and prosperity. A generation of Afghans hasn’t even seen metal roads. Now that they see them and travel on them in their own vehicles which otherwise would remain a distant dream for them, they salute Karzai for all these. Times are harsh for Afghans anyway, but not as harsh as the Mujahideen and Taliban had brought upon them forcing over 7 millions to take refuge in the neighboring countries, Europe and America. In the last 8 years, millions of Afghans have found jobs. They are rebuilding their nation with enthusiasm and all this comes right from the top.
With five more years ahead for Karzai, he is challenged in all directions. His enemies have come openly upon him. He dared silence Holbrook. Such courage on his part for the development of his poor, war torn nation, will be welcome by Afghans. Much still needs to be done to bring back the belief of Afghans on democracy and a system that is beneficial to them in the long run.