The large turnout in the April 5 polls in Afghanistan has cheered the world community and kindled hopes for a smooth democratic transition in the violence-prone country.
India has been quick to laud millions of Afghans who braved the bullets and capricious weather to vote in the historic elections and underlined that the massive voters’ turnout was a rejection of the ideology of terrorists and their backers.
Over 7 million Afghans, around 60 per cent of 12 million eligible to vote, cast their ballots April 5 in the defining elections that also marked the first-ever polls which will see a democratic transfer of power in a country known for chronic violence, warlordism and entrenched tribal feuds.
The prospects of a smooth democratic transfer of power have come as a relief to India, which has pledged over $2 billion in a host of multifarious reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, ranging from the construction of roads, bridges and power stations to the building of the Afghan parliament and an array of grassroot projects.
“
We salute the people of Afghanistan who turned out in such great numbers to exercise their franchise today despite the threat of violence and intimidation from terrorists and those who do not wish to see a strong democratic and sovereign Afghanistan,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson of India’s foreign office.
“We also salute the Afghan security forces, who have worked tirelessly and made great sacrifices, to make this day possible,” he said.
New Delhi also observed that “this democratic expression of the will of the people of Afghanistan is a resounding rejection of the designs and ideology of terrorists and their supporters who continued to pursue their nefarious goals till the last day of campaigning.”
“India will continue to work to support the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to build a strong, independent, sovereign and democratic Afghanistan.”
Given its enormous stakes in enduring peace and stability of Afghanistan, India is hoping for a moderate progressive government in Kabul that will be credible and powerful enough to take on terrorists and militants. India’s concerns over terror are no paranoia, but are all-too-real as the Indian embassy had been targeted twice in Kabul and many Indians have been killed by terrorists in Afghanistan in the last decade. Besides, there is nothing India dreads more than the ascendance of Taliban and the allied al-Qaeda networks, allegedly supported by Pakistan’s military-ISI establishment, which will directly impact on its vital national security interests.
Preliminary results of elections will be announced by the end of April. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, then a runoff vote will take place in May.
Author Profile
Latest entries
India and the WorldAugust 25, 2019Amid Pakistan’s Kashmir fury, UAE, Bahrain fete Modi with top civilian honours
India and the WorldAugust 15, 2019India@72: Modi unveils Rs100-trillion infrastructure upgrade for $5 trillion economy
India and the WorldJuly 22, 2019Chandrayaan-2 launch: India’s Moon dreams soar high
India and the WorldFebruary 20, 2019Saudi Arabia bets on $100 billion India opportunity, backs terror concerns
