Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections were held on Saturday amid insurgent attacks and logistical challenges that forced officials to extend polling in several centres by another day.
At least five explosions occurred in Kabul alone, with confirmed attacks outside the capital in polling stations across Afghanistan.
Despite engaging in peace negotiations with the US administration last week, the Taliban had called for a boycott of the elections, ordering their fighters to target polling centres and security forces.
Power lines transporting electricity from Tajikistan to the northern provinces were attacked, affecting a voting process that relied on electronic biometric equipment.
Taliban fighters blocked road and highways in areas under the group’s control, preventing voters from accessing polling stations. Several reports also stated that Taliban members had kidnapped election workers in the north. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah criticised the Taliban's attempt to sabotage the elections. "Our enemies do not want the country to have leadership elected by the people and so they seek to bar people to participate in election," he said, in an address at the end of first day of polling.
Security wasn’t the only concern for many Afghans. Questions were also raised by the Electoral Complaints Commission (EEC) over the transparency of the elections. Ali Reza Rouhani, an EEC spokesperson, pointed to numerous shortcomings in the electoral process, including biometric systems that did not work, and observers who were not granted access or mistreated. “The Complaints Commission were also denied access,” to unspecified polling stations Mr Rouhani alleged.
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Read more:
Wounded but undeterred, Afghan blast survivors return to polling stations
Afghanistan Sikh, Hindu community brave danger to vote
Afghanistan delays vote in Kandahar after killing of commander
Afghan elections 2018: what you need to know
Youth wave challenges Afghan elections
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The head of Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission acknowledged mistakes. “There were ups and downs in today’s elections. Many of the officials were unable to reach the polling centre due to threats from Taliban,” said Abdul Badi Sayyad at a press conference in Kabul on Saturday evening.
Logistical and technical issues hampered and delayed voting in many provinces, he acknowledged. Polling in many stations was extended as a result, and in some cases would continue on Sunday.
“In the centres where materials weren’t derived or employees didn’t show, elections will be held there tomorrow,” he said.
In addition, 371 polling centres that were closed on Saturday would be open on Sunday, Mr Sayyad said.
Despite the security threats, Afghans turned out in relatively large numbers to vote in the first parliamentary elections in eight years. By midday, about two million out of 8.8 million eligible voters had cast their ballots. Kabul saw the highest voter turnout in the country, as of Saturday evening.
The relatively high turnout was a sign of the country’s increasing autonomy, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. “These elections were the first completely run by Afghan authorities since 2001 and are an important milestone in Afghanistan’s transition to self-reliance,” the mission said in a statement. The UN body urged electoral authorities to “re-double their efforts to make sure all eligible voters are given a reasonable opportunity to cast their ballot”.
The extension of voting hours was welcomed by voters who had been unable to cast their ballots. Mohammad Qurban, a citizen from Tala wa Barfak in Baghlan province said he had made several unsuccessful attempts to vote at the only open polling station in his district, but was turned back by ongoing clashes.
"I have been trying to go cast my vote all morning, but there has been fighting ongoing between the security forces and Taliban in our district," Mr Qurban told The National. "I was caught in the crossfire. The insurgents were firing missiles and I had to come back home."
Across the country at least 28 people were killed and 83 wounded. A total of 192 "security incidents" were reported across Afghanistan, including grenade and IED attacks, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Afghan security forces prevented 1725 “incidences” across the country, the ministry said in a statement without providing further details.
Among the dead were 10 policemen and one soldier, with 17 members of the security forces wounded.
Mr Qurban in Baghlan said he remained hopeful he would get a chance to cast his ballot.
“If the security improves, I will try to go out to vote again,” he said.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
AIR
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
