Afghan Forces Secure Election

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

09.18.2010

Story by Lt. Joseph Holstead 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL - Ministers of the Afghan National Security Forces and the Independent Election Commission Chief thanked the Afghan people for exercising their right to vote, and praised the Army and Police for securing a successful election, this evening during at the IEC press hall.

Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak, Minister of Interior Besmillah Mohammady, National Directorate of Security Chief Rahmatullah Nabeel, and IEC Chief Fazal Ahmed Manawi addressed over 100 national and international media members following elections for the Wolesi jirga, or lower house of Parliament.

“There is no doubt that security was better this year. We had more Army and Police who were better trained, more international forces, elaborate planning, and coordination based on lessons learned,” Wardak said.

As of 4:00 p.m. Sept. 18, 4,632 of the 5,355 open polling centers had reported that 3,642,444 Afghans voted, or about 40 percent of registered voters, according to IEC.

“If voter turnout is lower at this point, and there is no way to know for sure, it may be due to enemy propaganda, threatening to terrorize voters; they claimed they would disrupt the election, but [the terrorists] failed,” Wardak said.

Voting numbers will be finalized over the next day, according to Manawi.

“Congratulations to the people of Afghanistan who today exercised their democratic right to vote,” Mohammady said. “Congratulations also to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan [and] the police and soldiers who bravely secured the Afghan people’s right to vote.”

“The enemies of Afghanistan used every resource to hurt the process - propaganda, threats - but once again the Afghan people successfully thwarted their attempts and voted,” he went on to say.

He also stated that the police confiscated 4,187 fake voter registraiton cards.

Nabeel reported that his force additionally confiscated 22,000 fake voter ballots.

NDS also arrested 19 terrorists, disrupted and arrested numerous terrorist networks, and defused 60 mines during the past 72 hours, according to Nabeel.

Each leader prayed for the police, soldiers, and civilians who were killed and the quick recovery of those wounded.

• Date Taken: 09.18.2010
• Date Posted: 09.18.2010 15:14
• Story ID: 56553
• Location: KABUL, AF