Tight security and 280,000 police officers and soldiers are protecting more than 6,000 polling stations across the country. The Taliban have threatened vengeance on voters, but few expect a bloodbath. However, voters have been disappointed by five years of government. Sources speak to AsiaNews about the situation.

Kabul (AsiaNews) – “The great sense of fear of five years ago, when the Taliban promised a bloodbath for anyone voting, is not present, but neither is there the fervent hope, great expectations and desire to turn a page that prevailed among all social groups back then,” sources told AsiaNews as they described the atmosphere leading up to tomorrow’s parliamentary elections, the second since the Taliban were thrown out of power.

Still, the situation is tense and dangerous. Today the Afghan Free and Fair Election Foundation said that 19 people died in election-related violence between 15 July and 25 August, including four candidates. Some 280,000 police and soldiers will be deployed to ensure security on voting day. However, 1,109 polling stations out of 6,835 will not open for security considerations.

The Taliban have warned people to stay away from polling stations. In Ghazni, they distributed a letter during the night, in some cases in mosques, saying they would “punish” anyone who voted.

The situation is such that the United Nations has removed a third of its staff from Kabul.

Today security forces have beefed up checkpoints across the country’s largest cities; patrols have also been scouring the hills around the capital to prevent rocket attacks.

One candidate, Abdul Rahman Hayat, was abducted at 7 am this morning in Alishing District (Laghman Province, west of Kabul).

“The word in the street is not to go out tomorrow, to stay home, except for the vote,” our source said, who for security reason is anonymous. “But it is not like in 2005, when the Taliban said they would attack polling stations and there was a lot of fear.”

In fact, a number of observers are even saying that some of the 2,514 candidates (including 406 women) running for the 249-member parliament “belong to the moderate wing of the Taliban”.

Altogether, 10.5 million Afghans are eligible to vote, but with fewer expectations, some fear a lower voter turnout, which would be a repeat of last’s year presidential election.

“Few people talk about these elections,” the source added. “Some say they do not know the candidates well, or their programmes, and that perhaps they will not vote. People vote for the candidate, not the party. Even if at a formal level, parties are vying for votes, many of them are not like those in stable democracies. They are just partisan alignments that reflect the division of the anti-Soviet resistance.”

“There are pro-government parties, which are better organised. However, party programmes are very similar: sending foreign troops home, self-reliance for Afghanistan, economic development and fighting corruption. There is a lot of propaganda, huge posters of candidates, as well as small one’s depending on what resources people have. However, after five years of a parliamentary-based government, no one expects sudden or decisive changes on the short run. In 2005, things were different. We expected to start a new chapter in the history of the country, crossing a threshold that would really provide new opportunities.” In any event, “everyone expects President Hamid Karzi’s party to win. It is seen as the strongest,” the source said.

According to the election timetable, the vote takes place tomorrow and results will be officially released on 22 September. However, their formal proclamation is scheduled for 31 October.

The overall cost for the election is around US$ 150 million, paid by international donors.

“To avoid vote rigging, there are complex election controls. Last week for instance, someone was arrested in Ghazni with 3,000 ballots are already filled out. With this kind of number you can get elected.”

Voters will have their fingers marked with indelible ink to prevent “multiple” voting. About 300,000 observers are expected at the polling stations.

"We don't expect a fair and transparent election," said Haroun Mir, the director of the Afghanistan Center for Research and Policy Studies, a Kabul-based think-tank. However, "What we expect is an acceptable election."

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• mir