More Katulis: Beware Post-Election Violence in Afghanistan
More from Center for American Progress’ Brian Katulis, who’s in Kabul to monitor Wednesday’s Thursday’s Afghanistan election for Democracy International. He
Jul 31, 202019.2K Shares713.3K Views
Morefrom Center for American Progress’ Brian Katulis, who’s in Kabul to monitor ‘s Thursday’s Afghanistan election for Democracy International. He writeson Foreign Policy’s AfPak Channel:
“„** **In addition to the potential for more pre-election attacks by the Taliban, speculation abounds about the possibility for post-election political violence between different factions. The presidential elections would go to a second round if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of votes cast. If a second round happens, the top two candidates would face off in early October. Some observers worry that if there are signs of widespread fraud or voter intimidation; a losing candidate may not accept the legitimacy of the results and might turn to violence to settle scores.
“„Some worries exist about possible post-election violence over provincial election results too. In meetings DI election observers had in Jalalabad over the last few days, for example, residents expressed worries about possible post-election violence between three main tribal families running different candidates.
The legitimacy question is is a crucial one. At Wednesday’s event at the St. Regis, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration’s Afghanistan and Pakistan special envoy, said that very little of the administration’s plans for aiding Afghan governance and economic development could proceed before the election of a government widely seen as legitimate. The point holds just as true after the Aug. 20 election as before.
[Update: Sorry, Aug. 20 is Thursday, not Wednesday.]
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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