ISAS Briefs

In my second brief of the series on the evolving situation in Afghanistan resulting from the presidential election held on 20 August 2009, I will look at some of the preliminary indications of what appears to have happened while the formal announcement of the outcome is awaited. The hope that the people will give a clear indication of their preferences was not realised. The country seems headed towards a breakdown of the social order essential to govern a multi-ethnic state. It appears that the hope that the election would contribute to political progress in South Asia is proving to be untrue.