Afghan Election Result Expected on Monday

Ashraf Ghani Apparent Winner

The announcement of the preliminary result of Afghan presidential election, which was scheduled for 2 July, got postponed to Monday so the winning candidate could pursue the other to support the first peaceful power transfer in modern Afghan history, perhaps by forming a cabinet with significant presence by both sides.

Based on Abdullah Abdullah’s continued claim of industrial-scale fraud in the election, it was obvious that Ashraf Ghani was the winner and will become the country’s president during a delicate period marked by significant U.S. troop drawdown and a rising tide of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East.

As a reminder of the perilous road ahead for the new president, the Taliban insurgents set fire today to about 200 oil tanker trucks supplying fuel for NATO forces in an attack just outside Kabul, Reuters reported. Television footage showed black smoke billowing above the site of the attack.

File photo: Dr. Ashraf Ghani, the apparent winner of Afghan presidential election, at 2014 Davos World Economic Forum. (Tasvir Afghanistan)