A Historic Election in Afghanistan

On April 5, 2014, millions of Afghans will line up to vote for a new president. The final results won't be known until well into May, or even after that, but what they will bring about is historic. For the first time, political power in Afghanistan will be transferred from one elected president to another through a democratic process. This page is dedicated to Asia Society content related to this significant moment in Afghan history, and what has led up to it. 

Related Content

(L to R) Panelists Amb. Omar Samad, Clare Lockhart, and Hassan Abbas and moderator Tom Nagorski at Asia Society’s event in Washington, D.C. on July 9, 2014. (Christina Dinh/Asia Society)

Afghanistan Analysts Debate Causes and Solutions to the Country's Political Crisis

In a spirited discussion at Asia Society’s Washington center, three veteran analysts of Afghanistan and Southwest Asia debated the controversy over the results of Afghanistan’s presidential election.
Amb. James Dobbins, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, speaks at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. on July 9, 2014. (Christina Dinh/Asia Society)

Afghani Candidates Need 'National Unity'

Ambassador James Dobbins, U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani will need to come to a consensus about forming the next Afghan government.
Rada Akbar, "Colorful Life" (2011), on view at the TCNJ Art Gallery exhibition "Art Amongst War: Visual Culture in Afghanistan, 1979-2014." (All rights reserved.)

Cultural Diplomacy with US Sends Crucial Message to Afghanistan's Young People

A regular, sustained exchange of ideas and values would signal to Afghan youth that this time, the U.S. isn't about to forget them.
"No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes" (Metropolitan Books, 2014) by Anand Gopal (R).
New York

Interview: Afghanistan Observer Sees Same 'Failed Status Quo' Continuing After Election

Journalist Anand Gopal speaks frankly about the "tragedy, the catch-22" of Afghanistan on the eve of its 2014 election.
An Afghan roadside vendor hangs scarves next to political leaflets on a wall in Kabul on April 4, 2014. Some 12 million Afghans will go to the polls on April 5 to elect a new president. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)

Photos: A Glimpse of Afghanistan Before and During a Historic Election [UPDATED]

In pictures: Afghanistan gears up for its third presidential election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
Afghan election employee, Forouzan Barez checks the plastic boxes containing election material at a warehouse prior to transportation to the polling centers, in the northwestern city of Herat on April 3, 2014. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)

Afghanistan Literally Can't Afford to Hold an Election That Isn't Free and Fair

Because a key condition for the continuation of international aid to Afghanistan is a comprehensive, transparent and credible vote, Saturday's election takes on even greater importance.
Supporters run to get a spot near the stage at an election rally for presidential candidate Abudullah Abdullah on the outskirts of Kabul on April 2, 2014, the last day of campaigning by Afghanistan's presidential candidates. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)

What Do Afghanistan's 'Generation America' Think of Their Country's Future?

Foreign soldiers may be heading home, and several international organizations are fleeing the violence, but there's no shortage of hope and optimism among Afghanistan's young people.
Afghan men crowd a field at a political rally during a campaign stop by presidential candidate Zalmai Rassoul in Bamiyan on April 1, 2014. (Hashmatullah/AFP/Getty Images)

Yes, the Afghanistan Election is Important — But So is the Day After

A member of Asia Society's Afghanistan Young Leaders Initiative reminds readers that Afghanistan's April 5 election is "only a means to an end — a stable, peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Afghanistan."
L to R: Afghan presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah, Qayum Karzai, Abdul Rahim Wardak, Zalmai Rassoul and Ashraf Ghani take part in a debate at Tolo TV station in Kabul on February 4, 2014. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images)

Asia 21 Young Leaders Help Make History at Afghanistan Presidential Debate

Afghanistan's first-ever presidential debate was televised by Tolo News, which is headed by two executives with Asia Society ties.
Bob Woodruff of ABC News appearing at a patrons event on war correspondents at Asia Society New York on January 22, 2014. (Craig Chesek/Asia Society)

War Reporters: The Firsthand View

Bob Woodruff and Mike Boettcher on covering Iraq, Afghanistan.
Texas

Afghanistan Stability Far From Realized

Brookings senior fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown delivers a sobering assessment.
Asia Society 21 Afghanistan Young Leader Jamil Danish in Kabul in October 2013.

Young Afghan Leader Says Fair Elections Will Prevent New 'Dark Ages' in His Country

Fresh off an Asia Society forum with his peers, Jamil Danish sees a positive future for Afghanistan if elections in 2014 are legitimate.

Afghanistan in 2014

As Asia Society's Afghanistan 21 Young Leaders prepare to meet in Kabul, Asia Blog spoke with former fellows about the year ahead, which will bring a new president and the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Members of Asia Society's Afghanistan's Young Leaders Initiative.

Daring to Hope: Afghanistan 21 Fellows Take Aim at Myriad Issues Facing Their Country

Introducing the latest group of fellows in Asia Society's landmark Afghanistan 21 program.
Bamiyan, 2009: An Afghan midwife helps a mother nurse her newborn baby at the Bamiyan Provincial hospital. Photo featured in the ART WORKS exhibition "Women Between Peace and War: Afghanistan," on view at Asia Society New York Oct. 3, 2013. (Paula Bronstein)

Interview: MSF Doctor on Afghanistan's Steep Challenges to Women's Health

Dr. Severine Caluwaerts explains why fear of bomb blasts and poor infrastructure make women's health an uphill struggle in Afghanistan.
Kabul, 2002: Switan, age ten, looks into the window of the Herat restaurant. She gazes at people eating with the hopes of getting leftovers and makes 50,000 to 70,000 Afghani ($2.50 U.S.) per day begging from foreigners. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
New York

Afghan Women 'Between Peace and War'

Oct. 3: Photos put human face on rights struggles.
Afghanistan Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul (R) and journalist John Hockenberry at Asia Society New York on September 24, 2013. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
New York

Afghanistan's 'Red Line' for the Taliban

Watch highlights from Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul's talk, including what he thinks of Afghanistan's "Twitter generation."
Everyday human traffic at Torkham, the busiest port of entry between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Suchitra Vijayan)

'Mythical' Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

Suchitra Vijayan's photos capture bustling human activity at busy port of entry.

Related Video

General John Allen: 'They're Much Better Than the Taliban'
Policy
 /  New York

General John Allen: 'They're Much Better Than the Taliban'

U.S. General John Allen offers an optimistic assessment of Afghanistan's armed forces and, even more so, its young people.
Watch Now
General John Allen and Martha Raddatz (Complete)
Policy
 /  New York

General John Allen and Martha Raddatz (Complete)

U.S. General John Allen joins Martha Raddatz of ABC News for a look at Afghanistan's future in general and its security situation in particular.
Watch Now
Marc Grossman: Resolving Conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Complete)
Policy
 /  Texas

Marc Grossman: Resolving Conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Complete)

The U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan presents a detailed analysis of his work in the region.
Watch Now
For Afghans, Education Means Empowered Youth

For Afghans, Education Means Empowered Youth

Ahmad Shuja emphasizes the importance of empowerment and education for the younger generation of Afghans.
Watch Now
Taking Responsibility for Afghanistan's Future

Taking Responsibility for Afghanistan's Future

Asia Society Afghanistan 21 Young Leader Ameen Habibi is hopeful for the future of Afghanistan because of its young people.
Watch Now
Challenges and Prospects for Afghanistan's Future

Challenges and Prospects for Afghanistan's Future

Asia Society Afghanistan 21 Young Leader Salma Alokozai cites some of the challenges and prospects facing young Afghans after 2014.
Watch Now
For Young Afghans, Hope Amid Uncertainty

For Young Afghans, Hope Amid Uncertainty

Freshta Karim argues that despite an uncertain security scenario looming after 2014, the gains of the past 12 years still give young Afghans hope.
Watch Now
Afghan Youth Are the Present, Not Just the Future

Afghan Youth Are the Present, Not Just the Future

Mohammad Shafiq Hamdam underlines the importance of young Afghans to the country's present, not just its future.
Watch Now
New Ideas and Open Doors in Afghanistan
New York

New Ideas and Open Doors in Afghanistan

Asia Society Afghanistan 21 Young Leader Jamil Danish outlines the differing outlooks among three generations of today's Afghans.
Watch Now
Afghanistan: A Mother, a Daughter, and a Friend
Policy
 /  New York

Afghanistan: A Mother, a Daughter, and a Friend

The co-founder and President of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), describes some of the mother-daughter relationships she has encountered among her students.
Watch Now
The Fight for Women's Rights in Afghanistan (Complete)
Policy
 /  New York

The Fight for Women's Rights in Afghanistan (Complete)

Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Severine Caluwaerts and Gülden Türköz-Cosslett assess prospects for the empowerment of women in Afghanistan.
Watch Now
Afghanistan's Young: 'A Very Important Social Force'
Policy
 /  New York

Afghanistan's Young: 'A Very Important Social Force'

Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs expresses his optimism about the role the country's young people will play in rebuilding civil society.
Watch Now

Upcoming Events

Afghanistan Young Leaders Initiative

Asia Society established AYLI to help nurture a community of next generation Afghan leaders. Learn more