KABUL - No obstacles ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election will be able to prevent it from being held on time, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) said Wednesday as it confirmed the dates for the 2014 poll.
IEC chief Fazel Ahmad Manawe released the election timetable saying he was optimistic that the election would go ahead with no delays because the possible obstacles were taken into consideration when dates were decided.
"There are obstacles ahead of the election time estimated in the constitution, but they should not prevent its implementation," Mawane said, adding that the voter registration process will begin soon.
The election commissioner confirmed the election date will be April 5 2014 and urged armed opposition groups to renounce violence and participate in the nationwide election, even becoming candidates for the presidency.
"I urge the Taliban, Hizb-e-Islami and other armed groups to choose the right path and renounce violence because war is not a solution for peace," Manawe said at a press briefing in Kabul.
"We are even prepared to pave the ground for the armed opposition, be it the Taliban or Hezb-i-Islami, to participate in the election, either as voters or candidates."
Initial results of the election will be announced after the election on April 24 and final results on May 14, with May 28 set aside for any potential run-off vote.
Hopeful presidential candidates, who are voted in as individuals not as leaders of a party, must submit their nominations by next October 6.
Afghanistan will also vote for the provincial council on April 5 with the final results announced on June 7.
Manawe stressed that the transparency of the vote depended a great deal on the security situation as security officials said efforts are underway to prevent foreign infiltration in Afghanistan and provide full security for elections in 2014.
"There is no doubt that challenges exist. The enemies and regional spy agencies are trying to intervene into Afghanistan, however the security forces are trying to prevent them to do anything," Deputy Head of Afghan National Directorate of Security Hesamuddin Hesam said Wednesday.
"The security forces are trying hard to maintain security for election in 2014," Security Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior Abdul Rahman Rahman said.
This comes as Taliban have consistently called on their followers to avoid the peace negotiations and continue fighting Karzai's government.
The Taliban did not take part in the 2009 election, widely regarded as being rife with fraud, instead they attacked polling stations and tried to prevent people from voting. (Tolo News)