Election Run off-Ethnicity to decide vote as Afghansitan goes to polls today

Ashraf Ghani

Islamabad:As only two candidates are there in the race for the highest position in Afghanistan,ethnicity is seen as a major decisive factor in the today's election runoff,following some controversial statements from the campaigners to win the support.Afghans go to polls for the second time in the 3 months to chose a new president who would replace the long serving current president Hamid Karzai at a time which is very sensitive because of with drawl of NATO.The polls which mark the first ever transfer of power in the war stricken country ,are in a run-off stage after none of the candidates in the first round of vote,on 5 April achieved more 50% votes.Former foreign minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah and former finance minister Ashraf Ahmadzai are competing in the second round.In the first round Abdullah had 45 % vote whereas Ashraf had 31.2% of total votes.Both candidates have vowed to pursue good relations with power if elected as President.The hisb-e-Islami backed Asfraf as the president but this was condemned by the party leadership.Security will be the main challenge but Afghan army chief has assured that about 190,000 personnel will be there for the security.