The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Monday announced a ten-member commission would be established to oversee security strategies and operations related to the spring elections.
The new commission arrives at a time when many inside and outside the government have been increasingly worried about security threats to the election process. Other than localized issues like the Independent Election Commission's (IEC) inability to open up voter registration offices in a number of districts around the country, more recently a growing concern has been the safety of IEC officials and other election personnel.
Officials said the commission, which was mandated by a Presidential Decree from President Hamid Karzai, would be charged with managing security for the Presidential and Provincial Council elections, IEC staff-members, candidate's campaigns, and national and international observers.
Salem Ehsas, the General Chairman of Police Affairs, was appointed head of the new commission, which is expected to begin work once the final list of candidates is announced in mid November.
"At every moment, we will connect with the IEC and candidates and move forward with our plans in coordination with them," said Ehsas.
Aside from care for the safety of individuals involved in the spring elections, however, recent worries about security issues have been tied to fears of fraud and other electoral improprieties that might bring the credibility of the elections into question.
That is likely why the commission will also be responsible for planning and overseeing the execution of the transportation of ballots in April.
On Sunday, Afghan security officials quickly rejected the IEC's suggestion that they seek assistance for election security from coalition forces, but they conceded that they might reach out for help when it comes to the transit of critical "election materials."
The commission was also said to be given the task of ensuring Afghan National and Local Police forces around the country remain neutral during the election process and do not engage in any voter manipulation.
The 2009 Presidential elections saw numerous allegations against public officials and security forces for interfering in the election process and coercing voters through inducements or threats to vote for certain candidates.
Nevertheless, insurgents remain the top threat in the minds of most officials and independent observers.
The Taliban has brushed off the election as "a waste of time," in the words of the group's leader Mullah Omar, but many are still convinced the group is looking to disrupt and derail the April vote. And the recent assassination of the Nimruz provincial IEC chief and abduction of five IEC employees in Faryab did not do much to alleviate those anxieties.