Afghan elections, as once considered a landmark in the history of Afghanistan, turns into elections impasse. U.S.A had meticulously predicted today’s scenario – elections goes to second round, which will be marred by claims of fraud and the final announcement might take six months- when she was pushing president Hamid Karzai to sign bilateral security agreement. We are more than half done and desperately moving to bleak and gloomy future in the rest of two months, if the dilemma is going to be finished or it finishes us in exactly six months. During the election impasse, we witnessed many breakings news saying: counting/auditing process stops and resumes. People weary of such narrative. We have been hearing many coded words and expressions from both runners, which are interpreted in different ways. It is hard for those who are part of neither side to understand where the Pandora box is. And both parties are not totally honest vis-à-vis Afghans, for whom the Two were begging to vote in each one’s favor. A very superficial understanding is they have yet to reach power-sharing deal, and issues like fraud and complaints are nothing but sheer pretexts.
The outgoing president urges both runners and IEC to wrap things up sooner as he is packing his stuff up and leaving the much demanded and desired – at least in Afghan politics – chair of Arg (Palace). People can’t decide to decorate their own homes because of election deadlock; “I am waiting for the election to be over before I decide to change the old and worn-out curtains of my house” a woman in Herat was quoted in AAN paper. However, the Two have speeded up the race and have been meeting on daily basis recently, but it has has yet to strike the deal. They are playing a very risky game.
Afghanistan economic growth was falling far before elections and it was fairly inevitable. But the election deadlock has been drastically worsening the fading and fragile economy. Business is contracting. The distressing sentiment among national and international investors is quite visible. Local businessmen don’t import goods that may not be sold out within two weeks. This in turns hikes the essential commodities prices throughout the country.
Full Article: Afghan Elections Dilemma: Finish before it finishes you – Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency.