(Thumbnail image from Afghanistan's Office of the President)

Results from Afghanistan’s election show that President Hamid Karzai may end up keeping his position. But in the midst of election fraud claims, media sources seem to be unanimously pessimistic and have turned to analysts about what the election results could mean for Afghanistan.

We take a look at perspectives from BBC, The New York Times, Russia Today and Al Jazeera English.

A reporter from BBC looks at what Afghans think of the election. He presents the view of Afghanistan's Free and Fair Election Foundation or FEFA.

“They’ve raised a number of concerns. Raising concerns in particular, about the legitimacy of the election. They’ve talked about intimidation, about threats, of rigging, about ballot boxes being stuffed.”

The New York Times interviewed Hajji Abdul Majid, chief of the tribal elders council in Argestan District, in the pro-Taliban Kandahar Province. He says no one voted in his town, so any result from his district would be suspect. He talks about how the election undermines efforts at restoring stability in the country.

“The people know that the government just took control of the district center for that day of the elections,” he said. “People are very frustrated. They don’t believe in the government.”

He added: “If Karzai is re-elected, people will leave the country or join the Taliban.”

Russia Today speaks with Gregory Mirsky from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations who agrees that the future for Afghanistan is not bright.

“I have no real hope for any real improvements in the near future, because the situation is not quite desperate, but almost.”

But Al Jazeera presents an alternative view, which says that the US is trying to name an Afghan chief executive who will work alongside the Afghan president. It talks with Haroun Mir from the Centre For Research and Policy Studies, who says the move is not welcomed.

“If you have a chief executive who was appointed not by president, but by the US administration, it will create more conflicts within the Afghan administration. And president Karzai considers him self as a legitimate president, elected by people. He will never accept, you know, having someone else who could probably contradict him, or probably oppose some of his policies and agendas.”

Guest columnist Ahmed Rashid writes for BBC and says this election puts blood in the water.

“What is now at jeopardy is the entire international commitment to Afghanistan, the danger of ethnic and political warfare, assassinations and bombings between rival candidates and an increase in the Taliban-led insurgency as they smell victory.”

Overwhlemingly, media sources are pessimistic about the future of Afghanistan, but we want to hear what you have to say about this issue.

Politics News

Karzai and the Future of Afghanistan

September 9, 2009
(2:39)
Results from Afghanistan’s election shows that President Hamid Kazai may keep his position. In the midst of claims about election fraud, media sources are turning to analysts about what the election results could mean for Afghanistan.
   
YOU NEED FLASH TO VIEW THIS VIDEO
TRANSCRIPT

To leave a comment, please log in with Facebook Connect or your Newsy account. Register here to create one.
MOST RECENT|MOST POPULAR|MOST COMMENTED|HIGHEST RATED

University Accused of Being a 'Diploma Mill'
Audit finds Dickinson State University awarded diplomas to more than 500 students, mostly from China.
(1:53)
February 13, 2012
Europeans Take to Streets to Protest ACTA
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans took to the streets over the weekend to protest the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
(1:37)
February 13, 2012
Pittsburgh Steelers Cutting Ties with Hines Ward
Steeler black and yellow goes hand-in-hand with WR Hines Ward, but fans may see Ward in another uniform come next season.
(1:59)
February 13, 2012
Air Force to Provide iPads in Cockpits
The United States Air Force is following the lead of the airline industry and transitioning to paperless cockpits using tablet computers.
(1:33)
February 13, 2012
Palin Fires Up CPAC Crowd
Analyst debate how will Sarah Palin's speech impact the GOP race?
(1:46)
February 13, 2012
Media Run Rampant With Houston Death Speculation
Just after Houston’s death news broke, the media began to speculate on the cause behind it.
(2:08)
February 12, 2012
Obama’s 2013 Budget Invests in Infrastructure, Raises Taxes
The proposed budget sends more money to transportation, cuts from military spending and relies on tax increases for high-income Americans.
(2:23)
February 12, 2012
Al Qaeda Increasingly Involved in Syria
Al Qaeda's leader urged followers to join anti-Assad rebels. U.S. officials claim the organization is already responsible for several bombings.
(1:46)
February 12, 2012
Will 'Lin-Sanity' Last Long?
Undrafted Jeremy Lin might be the next great NBA star, but can he sustain his high level of play?
(2:23)
February 12, 2012
Grammys Preview: What to Expect
From Adele's comeback performance to the always-surprising Kanye West to a last-minute Whitney Houston tribute, find out what to watch for tonight.
(1:58)
February 12, 2012
Sunday Soundbite Analysis 02/12/12
Chief of Staff Jack Lew, speaks about the fragile US economy and Obama’s controversial policy.
(3:10)
February 12, 2012
Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston had won 6 Grammys, 2 Emmys, 16 Billboard Music Awards and 23 Music Awards.
(2:37)
February 12, 2012
Did John Wayne Gacy Have An Accomplice?
New theories from two Chicago attorneys suggest the infamous serial killer did not work alone.
(2:17)
February 12, 2012
Madonna Stalker Recaptured After Escape
Madonna stalker Robert Dewey Hoskins escaped from a mental institution a week ago. On Friday, officers picked up Hoskins on a sidewalk in Long Beach.
(1:21)
February 12, 2012

Newsy