Time is Running Out in Afghanistan: The April 5th Election is Only the Prelude to Transition by Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies
The war in Afghanistan is not so much forgotten as in limbo. It may not be ‘Waiting for Godot,’ but it is obviously waiting for something. No leadership on the issue has emerged from the White House in months. There are no public plans or budgets for either the military or civil side of the war, no one has defined what will happen of the Bilateral Security Agreement is signed or what a “zero option” really means…
More:
Fears of Violence, Fraud Cloud Afghan Presidential Election - VOA
War and Unrest Provide for a Scarred Campaign Trail - NYT
Afghans Largely Left to Monitor Own Election - S&S
In Bullet-Ridden Afghan Districts, Free Vote Seems an Empty Promise - NYT
Afghan Presidential Vote May be Different this Time - LAT
Ethnic Divisions Playing Lesser Role in Afghan Elections - S&S
After Afghan Election, Debate Over Post-2014 Troops Continues - DO
The US Military’s Most Crucial Mission Yet in Afghanistan - DO
Alliances Realign as US Pulls Out of Afghanistan - Guardian
Despite Crisis, NATO to Keep Working with Russia in Afghanistan - S&S
Compromises and Concerns of Fraud in Afghan Election - WP
Afghanistan Deploys Security Forces Nationwide to Secure Polls - VOA
Security Lockdown in Kabul as Election Day Nears - RFE/RL
Presidential Candidates Key to Fate of Nation, Legacy of US - S&S
US, Eyeing Exit and Mindful of Past, Keeps Distance From Election - Reuters
Millions of Women Register to Vote, Hoping to Have an Impact - RFE/RL
Afghanistan or Talibanistan? - AFJ Opinion
4 Reasons Elections Won't Fix Afghanistan - TD Opinion
The Campaigns for Kabul - NYT Opinion
Afghanistan's Presidential Election - RFE/RL Flash Analysis
Afghanistan: Before and After the Taliban - BBC Info Graphics