Violence mars start of Afghan election season

KABUL: The start of Afghanistan´s election season was marred by deadly violence Sunday, just hours after President Ashraf Ghani insisted “peace is coming” to the war-torn nation. At least two people were killed and 25 others wounded in an attack targeting the Kabul office of Ghani´s running mate, Amrullah Saleh.

The violence came on the official starting day of campaign season for the upcoming presidential elections, serving as a grim reminder of Afghanistan´s woeful security situation and the sort of mayhem and murder that have beset previous polls. The attack began around 4:40 pm (1210 GMT), when a huge blast struck near the Green Trend office, a youth- and reform-focused civil society organisation Saleh heads.

He escaped without serious injury, his office said. Three hours later, the attack was still ongoing. No group immediately claimed responsibility. “The security forces have cordoned off the area. The security forces are trying to kill the attackers as soon as possible,” interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said.

Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said at least two people had been killed and 25 wounded. Earlier on Sunday, a buoyant Ghani kicked off his campaign by insisting “peace is coming” and that pivotal talks with the Taliban would take place. He is hoping to fend off challenges from 17 other candidates to score a second term at twice-postponed presidential elections now slated for September 28. On Saturday, Ghani´s peace minister, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said direct talks would take place with the Taliban within two weeks as part of a larger, US-led push for peace. Such a development could be crucial, as the Taliban — who now control or influence about half of Afghanistan — have so far refused to speak to Ghani´s government, as they consider the Kabul administration illegitimate.

War aside, the country faces a host of major issues ahead of the election, including rocketing crime, a lacklustre economy, soaring unemployment, and crumbling infrastructure.

Voters are despondent about the prospects of a fair election, and many worry about a repeat of the sort of violent attacks on previous polling stations by the Taliban and other insurgent groups trying to undermine Afghanistan´s fragile democracy. Ghani insisted this year´s election would be “clean”, but distrust is rife. Sayed Jan, a 27-year-old student, said he won´t be voting as he has lost faith since the 2014 election that was mired in allegations of fraud and ballot stuffing. “We have been betrayed by the candidates in the past, we can not trust them this time,” he told AFP.