With more than 350,000 members of the Afghan National Security forces deployed throughout the nation, it was logistical shortcomings — the lack of ballot boxes and sheets across several provinces — rather than security that became a source of concern during Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections Saturday.
As Afghans begin to vote for their new president, the country’s women are looking to the election with a combination of excitement and anxiety, cautious optimism, and the awareness that the gains they made over the last decade are still fragile.
VICE News Capsule - Wednesday, March 26
Today: France’s far right party, Russia’s space program, Taliban attacks in Afghanistan and Syria’s space program.
Taliban Intensifies Attacks Ahead of Afghan Election
With Afghanistan’s presidential election less than two weeks away, the Taliban is stepping up its campaign to intimidate citizens from voting with violence and bloodshed. On Tuesday, in what appeared to be coordinated attacks, insurgents and suicide bombers targeted the Independent Election Commission in Kabul, a New Kabul Bank branch in the eastern province of Kunar, and a sporting event in Kunduz.
The IEC office in Kabul is located beside the residence of Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a former finance minister and current frontrunner in the election scheduled for April 5. Initial reports of Tuesday’s attack suggested that Ghani’s house was the target, though the gunmen had actually stormed the IEC, where more than 70 people were preparing for the upcoming election.
Two suicide bombers detonated themselves at the entrance, killing two police officers who were standing guard. Three militants rushed inside. A standoff with police ensued for the next four hours, leaving an election worker and a provincial council candidate dead.