City
Epaper

Saturday's presidential election crucial for Afghans: Abdullah

By IANS | Updated: September 27, 2019 11:25 IST

The upcoming twice-delayed presidential election slated for Saturday was crucial for Afghans as the new government could find new ways for ensuring peace and stability for the war-torn country, the government's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said.

Open in App

"A good election will have a good impact because somebody who becomes the president of the country, who has the backing of the people and the mandate of the people, could step on more seriously in the peace process," Abdullah told Xinhua news agency in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

"Peace is not something that outsiders would want us to do. It is something that comes from the hearts of the people from the minds of the people," he said.

Saturday's presidential election will be the fourth in Afghanistan since 2001, when the US troops invaded the country to oust the Taliban regime.

Taliban militants who have vowed to derail the election, termed the voting process as a "ploy of foreign invaders to continue their occupation of Afghanistan", calling upon people to boycott it.

Responding to a query on Taliban's intimidation of the polls, Abdullah said: "they have always been opposed to the elections, that is not new and that is unfortunate.

"I am concerned but I am also sure that the elections are going to take place,"

He added that the Taliban opposed polls in the past but "elections have taken place in the past but... They (the Taliban) should realize that if a good election takes palace, only people who are supporting peace process will come out".

A total of 18 contenders have been registered to run for the presidency with a five-year term and among the candidates are incumbent President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah.

More than 9 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: TalibanAbdullahAfghanistanMohammad Ashraf GhaniXinhua
Open in App

Related Stories

CricketZimbabwe Clinch First Home Test Victory Since 2013 With Dominant Win Over Afghanistan

Cricket'Immoral and Barbaric': Rashid Khan Reacts After Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 3 Cricketers in Afghanistan

InternationalPakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: At Least 15 Civilians Killed, Over 100 Injured in Pakistani Artillery Fire in Kandahar

CricketAFG vs BAN 2025 3rd ODI Highlights: Afghanistan Thrash Bangladesh by 200 Runs to Sweep ODI Series 3–0

InternationalIndia to Reopen Embassy in Kabul Four Years After Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan

International Realted Stories

InternationalTrump sanctions two Russian oil companies, hopes Ukraine 'war will be settled'

InternationalUN says delivering aid to Gaza remains challenging

International"These are tremendous": President Trump on sanctioning Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil

InternationalUS military sinks alleged drug-trafficking vessel in Pacific, killing 2

InternationalUS strikes alleged drug vessel in Pacific, killing 2 people; 8th strike since Sept 2