Afghan Youth Debates: Security Remains Top Concern

Security and a lack of transparency remained key concerns among students on the eve of presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan, an IWPR debate was told.

The March 24 event brought student audiences at universities in the western city of Herat and Ghazni in the south together via a video link.

Some of the undergraduates expressed concern that ten per cent of polling stations across Afghanistan would remain shut because of the threat of insurgent attacks.

Other speakers claimed that large numbers of people had been unable to obtain voting cards.

"The Independent Election Commissionhas not managed this process well," Sakina Hussaini, a member of Herat’s provincial council, said. “People still haven’t received voting cards despite standing in queues for many hours. We shouldn't be facing these difficulties.”

Asadullah Jalalzai, head of a journalists' union in Ghazni, said security was the biggest worry for voters in his province. He said there were some districts that had been under Taleban control for the last six years.

“Instability, lack of public awareness of the election in remote villages, and poor voter registration card distribution are all challenges,” he said.

Despite such concerns, Juma Khan Hamdard, a lecturer in Ghazni, said he believed the April 5 poll would be a massive success with a high turnout.

“Even developed countries can experience problems during elections, but we mustn’t let the challenges we face derail the whole process," he said.

Mirwais Sabur, a participant, asked the panel how voters should decide which candidate to support. Khalil Parsa, a civil society activist, said that in previous elections many people had been influenced by the wealth and power of the individuals standing.

"These factors will not be so effective now that people know what to expect if they vote along these lines," he added.

Uzra Aziz is a student at Herat University and an IWPR trainee.

This report was produced as part of Open Minds: Speaking Up, Reaching Out – Promoting University and Youth Participation in Afghan Elections, an IWPR initiative funded by the US embassy in Kabul.