Head of the Trend Persian Desk, Dalga Khatinoglu
The elections held in Afghanistan on Aug. 20 are very similar to the presidential elections held in Iran on June 12.
The candidates' pre-election debates lively aired via TV channels, their speech about the planned falsifications before the presidential elections, the people's active participation and, finally, the presidential candidates' statements about the "mass fraud" - all these events occurred in both countries on the same scenario with the only difference that, unlike Iran, riots and protests are not expected in Afghanistan.
Unlike Iran, the Afghan candidates were able to freely submit to the Independent Electoral Commission their complaint due to the presidential election. Although they insist on their claims put forward in connection with this matter, these individuals still have called their supporters not to sow the discord.
Vice-President of the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission Dawood Najafi reported Trend about complaints received by the commission in connection with fraud during the vote.
The main candidates for the presidency, including President Hamid Karzai, former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzi, former Minister of Programming Ramazan Bashardust and Karzai'd key rival - former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah consider it important to investigate the results as part of the Independent Election Commission.
Statements, made two days ago by the head of the U.S. Armed Forces General Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen on "dangerous activation" of the Taliban, were enough to keep the presidential candidates from the disorder. Although the Taliban committed 70 terrorist attacks on the day of the presidential elections, international and local observers confirmed people's active participation in the elections. This fact indicates that the people believe in the power and in the democracy recently born in the country.
In Iran, the opposition did not believe in consideration of its statement under the law, and although 70 days passed from the elections, it has not yet officially recognized Ahmadinejad's victory, as well as the opposition's complaints have not yet been considered.
In any case, people and politicians of Afghanistan understand that the country needs stability more than democracy. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also emphasized that the U.S.'s task in Afghanistan is not to achieve democracy, but to restore stability.
Unlike the Iranian presidential contenders, the Afghan presidential candidates did not have the special differences of opinion and thoughts. The candidates did not have noteworthy plans to solve a fundamental problem of the Afghan population, related to the economy and way of life. However, in Iran, people have had great hopes that the candidates would change the existing situation.
Another factor avoiding the unrest in Afghanistan is the Poshtoon tribe's being in power in the country since the early history of the statehood. Since the foundation of the Afghan statehood by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1747 and so far, this country has always been governed by the representatives of the Poshtoon tribe. Regarding the fact that Karzai's key rival, Abdullah Abdullah is a Tajik, the Poshtoons which comprise the majority population, and Afghans who historically were under the Pashtuns' power will unlikely be disappointed with his lost in the election.
On the other hand, Abdullah's supporters had pinned great hopes on the results of the presidential elections. A high percentage of votes won by Abdullah, especially in the northern and central regions, as well as low voter turnout in the Poshtoon regions, supporting Karzai, due to the Talibs' activation, made Abdullah's supporters to believe that Karzai would not be able win 50% +1 of votes in the elections, because of which the second round will be held.