Photo by Tech. Sgt. Myco Apat

The ISAF Spokesman, Brigadier General Josef Blotz, gave an interview to Reuters via DVIDS the day after the Afghan Parliamentary elections. “This Afghan led election is a milestone on the way to a peaceful Afghanistan free of Taliban safe havens,” General Blotz emphasized. Of note, the Afghan National Security Forces did an excellent job ensuring security during the elections. The number of 294 insurgent attacks and only 34 effective attacks provides clear evidence of this fact. In comparison to the presidential election in 2009, the number of security related incidences decreased by 40%. Furthermore, the ISAF Spokesperson stated that there are significant developments and improvements to acknowledge. Particularly, there were approximately 400 female candidates which equated to 16% of Parliamentary candidates. Additionally, the high women voter turnout underlines improved conditions for a better future for Afghanistan.

Watch footage of the interview here.