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Free and fair presidential elections

A few days back, a top American senator John Kerry cautioned the US against interference in Afghanistan’s domestic politics. The statement has been hurled in such a time when the 2014 presidential elections are not too far away. If this is not just a gimmick and ploy, and Kerry’s suggestion is carried out, it will have indelible imprints on the political future of Afghanistan. In response to Kerry, the Afghan President also moved in and said that next presidential elections should be interference free from foreign influence. All these developments and statements portent towards one common thing—elections in past were plagued with foreign interferences, not free and fair. However, in future these things shouldn’t be repeated as at these critical hours, the Afghan nation needs unity instead of polarization while foreign forces have always attacked unity among Afghans. Poll rigging, foreign interferences were the hallmarks of past elections, but this time the nation shouldn’t fall prey to foreign intrigues. Unfortunately, on one side if some foreign elements attempted to derail transparent elections on the other side there were many Afghan candidates who were found guilty of rigging and who later were disqualified by the Independent Election Commission (IEC). Now that the transition has already started, it will definitely determine the future-Afghanistan whether the military and political gains are sustainable, and the strength and quality of the Afghan state left behind by international community that put all its efforts and resources to see an adamant democracy, is totally linked with the upcoming presidential elections. If there is any attempt, from domestic forces or forces from abroad, to derail transparency in upcoming presidential elections, there wouldn’t be any escape of its fallouts and repercussions. As has been outlined by John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, so their role should be interfering one rather it is quite critical to leave Afghans with their own choice. The power should rests with Afghans that who they pick as their leader, freely and fairly. Many domestic and international media outlets have had played up presidential elections, nevertheless this time they should avoid their gimmicks and shouldn’t mislead Afghans. Once the president has already clearly said that he has no plans to be part of the upcoming presidential elections, then paranoia serves nothing but futility and the nation should elect its upcoming president without polarization on ethnic lines and affiliation—this is what can give us a stable, prosperous and united Afghanistan. If polarization makes inroads once again then cannot get a model Afghanistan. The deadliest thing that has caused catastrophe here is the one, and that is, too many Afghan influential figures have fought for their personal ends to secure their interests instead of uniting for the good of this ill-fated nation, whose sons are lying scattered, dispersed and divided. Now it is quite necessary the nation should come out of its past, but focused on the present and should prepare itself for the future—selection of an accountable, transparent, independent election, fairness in new electoral laws, timely preparation of voters lists, no influence from foreign players are a few steps that can give us all a vibrant Afghanistan. Let’s say no to foreign intervention in our domestic affairs, which can be done by saying no to their covert funds being given to some political figures just to divide the nation, and let’s say no to affiliations based on ethnic sympathies.
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