Tag Archive for: ISAF

Afghanistan’s elections: Ghani vs Abdullah

Afghanistan's elections

The Afghan elections are now over, yet the recount of 8.1 million votes due to allegations of mass fraud is progressing slowly, with no clear winner yet in sight. Once a winner is declared, the losing candidate will be appointed to the role of ‘chief executive‘ and share power with the president. Ian Dudgeon’s recent AIIA piece underscored the challenges faced in securing a ‘credible’ recount and discussed the presidential candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.

On the positive side, the international coalition will be well served by whichever candidate is successful. Both Ghani and Abdullah are competent leaders and viable partners for the international community.

But there are significant differences between the two, beyond ethnicity. So I’d like to explore briefly how the backgrounds of both candidates may impact the credibility of the election outcome and what that would mean for Afghanistan’s future. Read more

Afghanistan, insider attacks, and the post-2014 mission

Afghan National Army Cadets practice drill on the parade grounds at the Afghan National Defense University in Kabul Afganistan, May 7, 2013. The Afghan National Defense University equips and trains the future officers of the Afghan National Army.(U.S Air Force Photo by: SSgt Dustin Payne, ISAF HQ Public Affairs)

Although details are still murky about this week’s insider attacks in Afghanistan, here’s what we do know: on Tuesday, an American major general was shot and killed by an Afghan soldier while inspecting a training facility in Kabul. A German brigadier and top Afghan commander were also injured, along with about 13 others. Later that day, an Afghan police guard opened fire on NATO troops in Paktia province before being killed in return fire. On Wednesday, an Afghan policeman shot seven of his colleagues in Tarin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, before fleeing with their weapons.

Insider attacks such as these by members of the Afghan National Security Forces carry strategic implications for the long-term mission in Afghanistan. While it’s too soon to tell how capitals committed to that mission will react, the attacks certainly won’t bolster confidence in the achievability of the task ahead. Read more