The last word is yet to be heard about the presidential election in Afghanistan, but it is Ashraf Ghani who has emerged as the winner this time too. His deputy Abdullah Abdullah has come second, as per the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announcement of the results. Abdullah and other contenders say they would go on appeal to the IEC and allege there was widespread fraud – something that they tried to hammer home in the past few weeks through sit-in protests etc, but which was not heeded by the IEC.
This is nothing new though. The 2014 presidential polls too were marred by allegations of fraud. However, it was the turn of the US to intervene and come up with a power-sharing arrangement between the two main contenders to power – Ghani and Abdullah. It worked somewhat fine for the past five years, ensuring a modicum of political stability in an otherwise harried nation, which has been a theatre for power play by regional and international interests for three decades.
Elections in Afghanistan cannot be perfect, considering the way chaos reigns there, amid the sway of warlords holding provinces under their command, the Pakistani machinations via a Taliban faction, and another Taliban faction vying with the other in perpetrating violence on a regular basis. Aside from the US, which has close to 14,000 troops under the alliance arrangement with UK and others spread out there, the Russians are seeking a role again, and China too is scouting around for influence. In all these, India’s age-old relationship with Afghanistan is facing some odds. Ashraf Ghani who initially hesitated to edge closer to India and instead looked up to Pakistan for help is now a more sensible leader.
It is likely that despite the airing of differences and allegations of fraud in the polls, Abdullah would again agree for a power-sharing agreement with Ghani. While Ghani got over 50 per cent of the votes, Abdullah got close to 40 per cent. Together, they form the collective strength of public opinion. The two have experience of governance to their credit and might take Afghanistan forward in a slow but steady manner, provided the present disputes over polls are settled between them.
The US has not been able to make much progress in its engagement with Taliban groups to end the ongoing violence. The counter-terrorism operations by the US and allied forces are bound to continue, while India’s engagement there in pro-democracy initiatives and infra development could also carry on. The electoral victory for Ghani ensures as much.
