Media Summary

October 30, 2010

Update: Karzai accuses NATO of abusing Afghanistan's sovereignty with its drug raid in collaboration with Russia; Iran is playing a double game, says Petraeus, as Newsweek says that Iranian payments to the Afghan government go far beyond the president's office. Holbrooke plays down talks with the Taliban, but talks up a recent trade agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan as a "political breakthrough."

Media Summary

October 29, 2010

News Summary, Oct 29

Update: More commentary on the discarded votes, and stories suggesting that supply lines between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain insecure, and one from Jerome Starkey that President Karzai is determined to push ahead with the ban on foreign security firms.

Media Summary

October 28, 2010

News Summary, Oct 28

Update: The ECC disqualifies more candidates and annuls more polling stations. The IEC comes under scrutiny for its decision to cancel votes from hundreds of polling centers, while commentaries talk of the Wolesi Jirga being filled with warlords.

Media Summary

October 27, 2010

News Summary, Oct 27

Update: Local media carries reports of, and responses to, comments by President Hamid Karzai about the election, as well as reports of continuing protests in Herat—this time by a winning candidate who was disqualified for failing to resign his government post.

Media Summary

October 26, 2010

News Summary, Oct 26

A reminder that we're still updating our website at Afghan2010.com where you can also find old summaries. Media are welcome to contact us and we'll try to help. Best to email me at [email protected] .

Media Summary

October 25, 2010

News Summary, Oct 25

Update: Some analysis of the IEC's preliminary results raises questions about, among other things, turnout; Karzai brushes off reports that he accepted bags of cash from Irank saying the U.S. gave him money too, and accusing the New York Times of defaming him because of his decree on foreign security firms.

Media Summary

October 24, 2010

News Summary, Oct 24

Update: the ECC delists the winning candidate in Herat for failing to resign his government post; disgruntled candidates take IEC officials hostage in western Ghor, while another group plans to issue a declaration demanding action over their complaints about the election. More talk about talks: The NYT says Iran is trying to buy influence, while the Telegraph says the Northern Alliance, fearing a Taliban return to power, are preparing to rearm.

Afghanistan – Election

Media Summary

October 23, 2010

News Summary, Oct 23

Update: Militants storm a UN office in or near Herat; a NYT photographer is seriously wounded in Kandahar; Pakistan's prime minister confirms he's not in the loop on talks with the Taliban.

Afghanistan – Election

Media Summary

October 22, 2010

News Summary, Oct 22

Update: Some media quote officials on both sides openly questioning whether there are any peace talks going on. Closer inspection of the preliminary Wolesi Jirga results reveals the biggest vote winner, by more than 10,000 ballots, was Tarakhel Muhammadi, a Kuchi.

Media Summary

October 21, 2010

News Summary, Oct 21

Update: local media react (or don’t) to the preliminary Wolesi Jirga results. More talk of talks, this time focusing on the possible role of Saudi Arabia.

Media Kit

Here are some resources for members of the media interested in getting more information about the Afghan 2010 elections of about DI. We are happy to accommodate interview requests or provide background and context for stories you are working on. Please contact at:

[email protected]
+93 (0) 798 574 806 (Afghanistan)
+1 301 961 1660 (USA)

Press Releases

Press Release

September 5, 2010

IEC Press Release Sept 5 - Finalization of Polling Center List for 2010 Wolesi Jirga Elections

Press Release

August 31, 2010

Democracy International Calls for Increased Security for Campaigning