Afghans defy Taliban threats to vote in run-off election

KABUL — Afghanistan hailed another successful election on Saturday when millions of people defied Taliban threats in a run-off vote to choose a new president as US-led troops withdraw.

But fraud allegations were likely from both campaign teams after the election, and a close count could lead to a contested result as the country undergoes its first democratic transfer of power.

The election will decide whether former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah or ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani leads the country into a new era of declining international military and civilian assistance.

Despite being largely peaceful, polling day saw at least 150 minor attacks, including a Taliban rocket that hit a house near a polling station in the eastern province of Khost, killing five members of the same family.

“The voting has gone well and as planned. As you see, the turnout has been large,” said Independent Election Commission chief Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani as counting got under way.

He admitted there had been problems with ballot paper shortages, but said that affected polling stations had been resupplied.

President Hamid Karzai is due to step down after ruling Afghanistan since 2001, when a US-led offensive ousted the austere Taliban regime for sheltering Al Qaeda militants behind the 9/11 attacks.

A smooth handover would be a major achievement for the international effort to establish a functioning state after the depredations of the Taliban era.

“We are very proud to be choosing our favourite candidate,” Karzai said after voting. “Today Afghanistan goes from a transition period towards long-lasting peace.”

In the first-round vote in April, the insurgents also failed to launch a high-profile attack while voter turnout was more than 50 per cent.

“As we promised, the security was better and we had better planning,” said interior minister Omar Daudzai on Saturday. “The enemy’s attacks have had very little impact.”

Daudzai said the day was proof that the security forces, who have been trained by the US-led military coalition, will be able to protect the country when all NATO-lead combat troops exit Afghanistan this year.

Both candidates cast their ballots in Kabul, dipping a finger in ink to register that they had voted.

“We do not want even one fraudulent vote for us,” Abdullah told reporters, while Ghani said via Twitter: “We ask everyone to prevent, avoid and discourage people from rigging.”

On the eve of the run-off, UN head of mission Jan Kubis had issued a stark warning to candidates’ supporters not to resort to the ballot-box stuffing that marred the 2009 election when Karzai retained power.

The two candidates came top of an eight-man field in the April election, triggering the run-off as neither reached the 50 per cent threshold needed for outright victory.

Abdullah secured 45 per cent of the vote with Ghani on 31.6 per cent, after investigations into fraud claims from both sides.

On the campaign trail, they offered similar pledges to tackle rampant corruption, build much-needed infrastructure and protect citizens from violence.

“I want someone who can improve our economy, create jobs and improve our lives,” said Janat Gul, 45, a shopkeeper voting in Kabul.

“If the economy is good there will be no insurgency, everyone will be busy working, not fighting.”

Harsh terrain and poor roads make holding an Afghan election a logistical challenge, with thousands of donkeys used to transport ballot boxes to remote villages.

Counting the ballot will take weeks. The preliminary result is due on July 2 and a final result on July 22.

Ahead of the vote, the Taliban had threatened to kill voters and officials, saying the election was an American plot “to impose their stooges”.

Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from a third term in office, has fulfilled his pledge not to interfere in the election — in public at least — though he is tipped to retain influence after handing over power.