Afghanistan: Millions voted despite Taliban threats

(Patria) – Millions of citizens of Afghanistan went to the polls on Saturday to vote in the presidential elections despite Taliban threats.

Preliminary results can be expected no earlier than October 17, and final results no earlier than November 7.

If no candidate wins at least 51% of the votes, a second round of voting will be held for the two candidates who make it to the final round.

The government assumes that President Ashraf Ghani will renew his five-year term, but also expresses concern that this would only deepen political instability and strengthen the Taliban, consequently hindering the progress of peace talks.

Election day was shaken by several explosions in the capital Kabul, as well as in Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Ghazni.

Tens of thousands of police officers and soldiers of the Afghan National Army were engaged across the country to provide protection to 4,942 polling centers from Taliban attacks.