Afghanistan's 2009 Presidential Elections: A New Milestone?

The 2009 Afghan presidential elections scheduled for August 20th represent an important milestone for Afghanistan at a time when the United States is redefining its mission in the region and a resurgent Taliban leaves Kabul with less and less control over territory in the country.

At this public discussion, Mr. Roohul Amin, the Governor of Farah Province, and Dr. Habiba Sarabi, the Governor of Bamian Province, discussed what the elections mean for the Afghan people and Afghanistan as whole; the role of Afghan provincial institutions; and what the international allies, including Europe, can do to support the elections. Shada Islam, Senior Programme Executive at the European Policy Centre, chaired the discussion, while Carnegie's Kristina Klein offered welcoming words.

Highlights included...

• Sarabi expressed her concern about the legislation signed by President Karzai in March that explicitly allows for marital rape and restricts female self-determination within the Shia Muslim community. Sarabi cautioned against institutionalizing a specific custom that is not uniformly accepted by Shia Muslims. The governors pointed to Karazi's creation of review committee in the wake of widespread protests over the decision as a positive sign of openess, and said they hoped the bill would be overturned.
   
• Amin and Sarabi called for more targeted reforms and initiatives at the central government level to stamp out corruption, which is endemic across all institutions in Afghan society.  Mass public support for, and compliance with anti-corruption measures is required.  
   
• Amin offered support for the proposed reintegration and rehabilitation of certain Taliban members into society, but under the ambitious proviso that they accept the constitution of Afghanistan and the human rights provisions enshrined within it.