Afghan elections: runners and riders
Ahead of tomorrow’s poll, I thought it might be useful to look at who’s still in the race for the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Runners and riders come below the fold along with a brief comment from me.
| Candidate | 1st Running Mate | 2nd Running Mate | Notes |
| Potential victors | |||
| Hamid Karzai | Mohammad Qasim Fahim | Mohammad Karim Khalili | |
| Abdullah Abdullah | Hamayoon Sha Asifi | Cheragh Ali Cheragh | |
| Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzi | Mohammad Ayoob Rafiqi | Dr Mohammad Ali Nabi Zada | |
| Other major candidates | |||
| Sayeed Jalal Karim | Faiz Mohammad Daqiq | Ghulam Abass Waiz Zada Bihsoodi | |
| Mirwais Yassini | Amanullah Paiman | Dr Abdul Qaium Sajadi | |
| Abdul Latif Pedram | Noor Ahmad Barzen Khatibi | Dr Mohammad Ayoob Qassimi | National Congress Party |
| Shah Nawz Tani | Nisar Ahmad Salimi | Mohammad Jan Pamir | Da Sooli Ghurzan Party |
| Ramazar Bashar Doost | Mohammad Moosa Barakzi | Afifa Maroof | |
| Abdul Jabar Sabit | Mohammad Ali Mohammad | Abdul Jabar Raoufi | |
| Other candidates | |||
| Alhaj Rahim Jan Shairzad | Mohammad Aesar | Malik Shukrullah | |
| Mohammad Sarwr Ahmadzi | Mohammad Karim Khalili | Sayeed Rasool | |
| Eng. Moinudin Ulafti | Khan Mohammad | Ndia | |
| Dr. Habib Mangal | Prof. Dr. Mohammad Daoud Raoush | Nafas Jahid | Development, Democracy and Improvement Party |
| Zabullah Ghazi Nooristani | Alhaj Mohammad Zubair | Aqa Sayeed | |
| Bissmillah Sher | Mohammad Hassan Tawhidi | Dr Sikandar Khan Hussain | |
| Baher Ahmad Bezhan | Abdul Ghafar Orfanir | Fatima Naimi | |
| Motsimbillah Mazhabi | Mohammad Nasim Rawza Baghi | Iftikhar Ahmad Yousofzai | |
| Mullah Abdul Salam Rakiti | Mohammad Ajmal Habib Safi | Mohammad Sadiq | |
| Zyaull Haq Hafizi | Sayeed Baqir Mosbah Zada | Haji Sayeed Ahmad Hamdard | |
| Mohammad Akbar Orya | Gen. Abdul Zahir Mirza Khil | Zalmai Faqiri | |
| Sangin Mohammad Rahmani | Rajab Gul | Ziaudin | |
| Mahbullah Koshani | Sayeed Abobakr Mahmmodi | Mohammad Sharif Tara Khil | Azadagan Party of Afghanistan |
| Abdul Hassib Arian | Abdul Fatah Ghanikil | Mirza Mohammad Mia | |
| Mullah Ghulam Mohammad Regi | Wali Mohammad Akser | Baz Mohammad Yaftali | |
| Shahla Atta | Ghulam Farooq Sediqi | Alhaj Gul Mohammad Orzgani | |
| Dr Ghulam Farooq Nijrabi | Lt Gen Abdul Wakil | Khwaja Ghulam Jailani Sediqi | Independence Party of Afghanistan |
| Alhaj Abdul Ghafoor Zawri | Mohammad Tahir Aslami | Masood Mahmood Zada | |
| Mohammad Hashim Taufiqi | Shawali Rohani | Ghulam Ali Amin | |
| Mawlana Abdul Qadir Emami Ghuri | Mohammad Yassin Katib | Sultan Ali Murtaza Nikzad | |
| Dr. Forozan Fana | Nasimullah Darman | Ghulam Jailani Satari | |
| Gul Ahmad Yama | Ahmad Sha Assar | Sulaiman Ali | |
| Withdrawn candidates | |||
| Hedalat Amin Arsala | Mohamad Issmail Qasimyar | Doost Mohammad Omari | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Alhaj Hassan Ali Sultani | Misri Khan Momand | Abdul Raqib | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Alhaj Shah Mahmood Popal | Mohammad Alim Rahiq | Sha Jahan | Islamic National Peace Party Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Nasrullah Baryali Arsalai | Mulwi Abdul Baqi Turkistani | Sayeed Mohammad Alim Amini | Withdrew in favour of Abdullah |
| Abdul Majid Samim | Obaidullah | Sayeed sha Agha | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Mawli Mohammad Sayeed Hashmi | Jonir Mohammad Masoom | Lt Gen Mohammad Naim Ansari | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Mohammad Hakim Toorsan | Nasrullah Zyarmal | Dr Sayeed Mohammad Yassin Olawi | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Baz Mohammad Kofi | Zarmina Sahar | Sayeed Mohammad Baqir Amiri | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Dr Mohammad Naser Aniss | Surya Daqiqi | Dr Sayeed Aminullah | Withdrew in favour of Karzai |
| Mohammad Yassin Safi | Mohammad Issrail | Mohammad Azim Tahiri | withdrew in favour of Karzai |
The nine withdrawals in favour of Karzai, all relatively recent, suggest people know which side their bread is buttered, either because they suspect Karzai will win or because there has been some horse-trading. Polling is difficult in Afghanistan, but the three I have seen give the lead to Karzai. However, the number of undecideds is high. Assuming Karzai does not receive a majority, the second round will be him against either Abdullah Abdullah or Ashraf Ghani. Abdullah is more likely to beat Karzai; if anyone is to beat him, the west would probably prefer Ghani. Karzai remains the man to beat.
Elections for the thirty-four provincial councils will also take place tomorrow.
More at afghanelections.org.
xD.
PS – I draw your attention to the disclaimer on the sidebar.
