Presidential run-off election to be held on November 7; Taliban threatens to disrupt the process; Gates: NATO to send more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan; New British Army Chief: War against Taliban and al-Qaeda can be won;
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    • The Independent Election Commission on October 20 announced that the presidential run-off will be held on November 7 as none of the two leading candidates (Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah) were able to win 50 per cent of the vote. Dr Abdullah on his part stated that he was ready for a second round of voting and that he would present proposals to prevent fraud in the run-off.1 Taliban meanwhile urged Afghans to boycott the November presidential election run-off and vowed to disrupt the process. 2

    US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, at a meeting of the 28 NATO defense ministers in Bratislavain, Slovakia on October 23 reminde his ciounterparts of NATO’s long-term commitment to remain in Afghanistan until the conflict is successfully resolved. He added that NATO allies were moving toward sending more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan.3

    The new chief of the British Army Gen. David Richards expressed confidence that the UK and its allies can win the war against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan. He pointed out that it was not a coincidence that al-Qaeda had been unable to orchestrate any further atrocities against the West from within Afghanistan's borders since the beginning of the NATO-led ISAF mission.4

    ISAF Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal meanwhile announced on October 20 that ISAF will establish a new NATO headquarters to oversee higher-level training and mentoring for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). This will be known as NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A).5

    In other developments, the Obama administration appreciated India’s developmental contribution in Afghanistan and rejected Islamabad’s contention that New Delhi's activities were detrimental to Pakistan’s security. US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly stated that “a stable and more prosperous Afghanistan is only going to contribute to regional stability."6

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