Afghan elections Violent struggle for democracy
THE CANDIDATES
Tomorrow, Afghans vote for their next president. First results will be announced on 3 September. If no candidate exceeds 50 per cent of votes, a run-off between the two leading candidates will follow within two weeks.
TALIBAN/INSURGENT ACTIVITY
Enemy control High risk Medium risk Low risk
JAWZJAN
BALKH
KUNDUZ
BADAKHSHAN
FARYAB BADGHIS HERAT GHOR
An Englishspeaking former CIA agent, he proved a disappointment to many Afghans after his election in 2004, but, as a member of the predominant Pashtun ethnic group with links to still-potent mujahedin warlords, he remains the clear favourite to win.
Hamid Karzai
TROOPS
UK
9,000
Mazar-e-sharif: The power base of fearsome warlord Rashid Dostum, who returned from exile in Turkey this week and is supporting Karzai.
BAGHLAN NURISTAN KUNAR LOGAR NANGARHAR
DAYKUNDI GHAZNI
US
US
PAKTIA KHOST
29,995
FARAH
NATO UK
PATIKA
64,500*
NIMRUZ
*42 nations in total including UK and US
KANDAHAR HELMAND
Kabul: Widespread fraud alleged in the capital with voting cards up for sale and thousands of dollars distributed in bribes. Right, a child is carried out of hospital after being injured in a suicide attack in the capital yesterday
Of the Tajik ethnic minority, he is the candidate of the opposition National Front, the largest opposition bloc. He came to Kabul with the Northern Alliance during the 2001 invasion and served as foreign minister in Karzai’s first government. an academically brilliant Pashtun educated in Beirut and the United States, he was the bold and effective finance minister in Karzai’s first government, but his passion for reform has often been sabotaged by a giant ego and political clumsiness.
Abdullah Abdullah
Helmand: Crucial Pashtun area where only 101 out of 222 polling stations are expected to open, due to Taliban intimidation.
ELECTORATE
VOTING
population in millions
ETHNIC GROUPS
17m 32.7m
Ashraf Ghani
15-17 million are registered to vote
7,000 POLLING CENTRES
Pashtun Tajik Hazara Uzbek Others
13 9 9
Sources: Reuters, Centre for Strategic and International Studies Graphic: John Bradley
%
42
One in 10 could be closed due to poor security
$200m Bankrolled by international partners
COST
27