Since a surge of Afghan forces entered Ghor province two years ago, security in the western province has improved dramatically. While certain concerns still remain, security preparations for the spring elections in Ghor are said to be progressing well, in stark contrast to reports from many other provinces around the country. 

Security for April vote is a top-priority for military, police and election officials. With threats in a number of provinces cutting off a whole list of districts from security forces and the Independent Election Commission (IEC), the voter registration process has seen setbacks caused by insecurity. Many are afraid issues in the spring could lead people to stay home and not go to the polls, which would mean a low voter turnout that could hurt the credibility of the elections.

But in the case of Ghor, at least, the province’s Afghan National Army (ANA) Commander Mohammad Shoaib said that over the past year the ANA won major victories over the Taliban insurgency in various areas of the province.

Efforts were undertaken two years before to increase the presence of the Afghan army in Ghor when the security situation there was considered one of the worst nationwide. A special unit of the ANA was even deployed to Chaghcharan, the capital of the province.

Shoaib maintained that security had improved by leaps and bounds over the past year as foreign troops withdrew and Afghan forces took over operational responsibilities. 

“A soldier, particularly an Afghan army soldier, should have high morale, and by the grace of Allah I have noticed that this morale exists in my soldiers,” Shoaib said.

TOLOnews spoke to a number of Ghor soldiers, and they all expressed belief in their cause and confidence in their abilities.

“We have joined the ANA to serve our country,” one Ghor ANA soldier named Imam Rassoul said.

“We assure our countrymen that we will secure the elections,” another soldier named Mohammad said.

“We defend out motherland and would never allow the insurgents to kill our innocent people,” ANA officer Abdul Waris said.

Reportedly, the existence of nearly 10,000 Illegal Armed Group (IAG) members in Ghor marks a continued threat to safety and rule of law in the province. Reigning in these groups and preventing them from disrupting the elections in any way will have to be a top priority for province officials if they hope to put the issue to rest before polls open in April.

“The local and the central governments should focus on the security situation in Ghor and a clearance operation should be launched to strengthen security and government control in the area,” said Ghor Provincial Council member Ramazan Qasimi. “Otherwise, the credibility and transparency of the elections will be questioned and this will only benefit those who seek to take control of the area.”

Last week, a mobile registration team of the IEC struck a roadside bomb in Ghor and all of the team-members suffered injuries.