Find me on facebook www.facebook.com/shamshad.haider https://www.youtube.com/shamshad14
Friday, January 31, 2014
US cancels funds for Afghan opinion polls ahead of election
KABUL: The United States has cancelled funding for opinion polls in the run-up to Afghanistan’s presidential election after an initial poll in December triggered accusations of US attempts to manipulate the outcome, officials said.
A spokesman for the US-funded group Democracy International said on Thursday it and other similar organizations had planned to carry out opinion polls as Afghanistan prepares for the April 5 election.
The US embassy in Kabul later confirmed the funding cut.
“Statements by some electoral authorities and candidates’ camps suggested that there was … a perception that the polling results were somehow biased,” a US embassy spokesman said.
“In order to avoid any perception – however baseless – of US interference, we have decided to forgo additional US-funded polling regarding the upcoming election,” he said.
The cut in funding comes as relations between the United States and Afghanistan have been severely strained over President Hamid Karzai’s refusal to sign a bilateral security pact that would enable US troops to stay beyond this year.
The election is seen as crucial to Afghanistan’s efforts to build stability, months before most foreign forces are due to withdraw, leaving Afghan forces to battle a resilient Taliban insurgency.
Democracy International program officer Mohammad Atta said the group had planned three rounds of opinion polls. It published its first results in December but its findings provoked a public outcry and accusations of interference.
“There were a few agencies that were responsible for conducting the polls but all of them have been cancelled at the moment,” Atta said.
Karzai has long suspected the United States of having interfered in the last presidential election in 2009 and has warned against further meddling.
Former US defence secretary Robert Gates recently published a memoir appearing to confirm Karzai’s suspicion, saying the then top US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan had been “doing his best to bring about the defeat of Karzai”.
Karzai’s spokesman said Washington may try to use polling as a means to influence the outcome of the April election.
“It is now crystal clear that there was interference in the election in 2009,” said Aimal Faizi. “It puts the US role behind such funding under question. Why would the US fund surveys on Afghan presidential candidates?”
The United States is Afghanistan’s biggest aid donor, despite the difficult relationship with Karzai, but it is committing about 15 percent less for the 2014 election fund than it did in 2009, pledging $55 million.
Democracy International’s first poll showed the front-runners to be West-leaning intellectual and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani and former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, Karzai’s main challenger in 2009.
Hostility between the United States and Karzai, who has served two terms and is not running again, has escalated this month over two key issues.
The first is a plan to release prisoners that Washington says have killed coalition forces and pose a threat to security. The second is a military operation in Parwan province that resulted in a number of civilian deaths.
The United States has threatened to pull out all of its troops unless Karzai signs the security deal promptly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (1)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (3)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (3)
- Mar 15 - Mar 22 (8)
- Mar 8 - Mar 15 (53)
- Mar 1 - Mar 8 (20)
- Feb 23 - Mar 1 (10)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (19)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (17)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (38)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (9)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (9)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (23)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (14)
- Dec 29 - Jan 5 (10)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (14)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (9)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (6)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (14)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (30)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (36)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (6)
- Nov 3 - Nov 10 (16)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (36)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (21)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (44)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (17)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (14)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (30)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (17)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (24)
- Sep 1 - Sep 8 (41)
- Aug 25 - Sep 1 (24)
- Aug 18 - Aug 25 (28)
- Aug 11 - Aug 18 (15)
- Aug 4 - Aug 11 (13)
- Jul 28 - Aug 4 (8)
- Jul 21 - Jul 28 (2)
- Jul 14 - Jul 21 (7)
- Jul 7 - Jul 14 (3)
- Jun 30 - Jul 7 (8)
- Jun 2 - Jun 9 (7)
- May 26 - Jun 2 (1)
- May 19 - May 26 (14)
- May 12 - May 19 (12)
- May 5 - May 12 (21)
- Apr 28 - May 5 (41)
- Apr 21 - Apr 28 (25)
- Apr 14 - Apr 21 (38)
- Apr 7 - Apr 14 (38)
- Mar 31 - Apr 7 (17)
- Mar 24 - Mar 31 (26)
- Mar 17 - Mar 24 (12)
- Mar 10 - Mar 17 (26)
- Mar 3 - Mar 10 (10)
- Feb 24 - Mar 3 (39)
- Feb 17 - Feb 24 (19)
- Feb 10 - Feb 17 (23)
- Feb 3 - Feb 10 (44)
- Jan 27 - Feb 3 (15)
- Jan 20 - Jan 27 (25)
- Jan 13 - Jan 20 (26)
- Jan 6 - Jan 13 (4)
- Dec 30 - Jan 6 (12)
- Dec 23 - Dec 30 (22)
- Dec 16 - Dec 23 (1)
- Dec 9 - Dec 16 (12)
- Dec 2 - Dec 9 (32)
- Nov 25 - Dec 2 (40)
- Nov 18 - Nov 25 (24)
- Nov 11 - Nov 18 (48)
- Nov 4 - Nov 11 (20)
- Oct 28 - Nov 4 (29)
- Oct 21 - Oct 28 (39)
- Oct 14 - Oct 21 (32)
- Oct 7 - Oct 14 (41)
- Sep 30 - Oct 7 (25)
- Sep 23 - Sep 30 (26)
- Sep 16 - Sep 23 (34)
- Sep 9 - Sep 16 (29)
- Sep 2 - Sep 9 (40)
- Aug 26 - Sep 2 (20)
- Aug 19 - Aug 26 (10)
- Aug 12 - Aug 19 (21)
- Aug 5 - Aug 12 (46)
- Jul 29 - Aug 5 (10)
- Jul 22 - Jul 29 (2)
- Jul 15 - Jul 22 (8)
- Jul 8 - Jul 15 (13)
- Jul 1 - Jul 8 (16)
- Jun 24 - Jul 1 (24)
- Jun 17 - Jun 24 (6)
- Jun 10 - Jun 17 (38)
- Jun 3 - Jun 10 (46)
- May 27 - Jun 3 (30)
- May 20 - May 27 (17)
- May 13 - May 20 (29)
- May 6 - May 13 (10)
- Apr 29 - May 6 (31)
- Apr 22 - Apr 29 (50)
- Apr 15 - Apr 22 (16)
- Apr 8 - Apr 15 (37)
- Apr 1 - Apr 8 (48)
- Mar 25 - Apr 1 (36)
- Mar 18 - Mar 25 (40)
- Mar 11 - Mar 18 (38)
- Mar 4 - Mar 11 (14)
- Feb 25 - Mar 4 (34)
- Feb 18 - Feb 25 (34)
- Feb 11 - Feb 18 (15)
- Feb 4 - Feb 11 (46)
- Jan 28 - Feb 4 (16)
- Jan 21 - Jan 28 (10)
- Jan 14 - Jan 21 (11)
- Jan 7 - Jan 14 (24)
- Dec 31 - Jan 7 (10)
- Dec 24 - Dec 31 (11)
- Dec 17 - Dec 24 (21)
- Dec 10 - Dec 17 (27)
- Dec 3 - Dec 10 (19)
- Nov 26 - Dec 3 (22)
- Nov 19 - Nov 26 (18)
- Nov 12 - Nov 19 (30)
- Nov 5 - Nov 12 (54)
- Oct 29 - Nov 5 (47)
- Oct 22 - Oct 29 (28)
- Oct 15 - Oct 22 (45)
- Oct 8 - Oct 15 (41)
- Oct 1 - Oct 8 (38)
- Sep 24 - Oct 1 (40)
- Sep 17 - Sep 24 (99)
- Sep 10 - Sep 17 (18)
- Sep 3 - Sep 10 (9)
- Aug 27 - Sep 3 (26)
- Aug 20 - Aug 27 (28)
- Aug 13 - Aug 20 (19)
- Aug 6 - Aug 13 (41)
- Jul 30 - Aug 6 (4)
- Jul 16 - Jul 23 (22)
- Jul 9 - Jul 16 (23)
- Jul 2 - Jul 9 (9)
- Jun 25 - Jul 2 (4)
- Jun 18 - Jun 25 (10)
- Jun 11 - Jun 18 (13)
- Jun 4 - Jun 11 (40)
- May 21 - May 28 (31)
- May 14 - May 21 (41)
- May 7 - May 14 (34)
- Apr 30 - May 7 (33)
- Apr 23 - Apr 30 (32)
- Apr 16 - Apr 23 (38)
- Apr 9 - Apr 16 (47)
- Apr 2 - Apr 9 (19)
- Mar 26 - Apr 2 (37)
- Mar 19 - Mar 26 (20)
- Mar 12 - Mar 19 (32)
- Mar 5 - Mar 12 (32)
- Feb 26 - Mar 5 (26)
- Feb 19 - Feb 26 (63)
- Feb 12 - Feb 19 (20)
- Feb 5 - Feb 12 (2)
- Jan 29 - Feb 5 (16)
- Jan 22 - Jan 29 (24)
- Jan 15 - Jan 22 (31)
- Jan 8 - Jan 15 (20)
- Jan 1 - Jan 8 (11)
- Dec 25 - Jan 1 (30)
- Dec 18 - Dec 25 (48)
- Dec 11 - Dec 18 (44)
- Dec 4 - Dec 11 (74)
- Nov 27 - Dec 4 (50)
- Nov 20 - Nov 27 (39)
- Nov 13 - Nov 20 (73)
- Nov 6 - Nov 13 (51)
- Oct 30 - Nov 6 (56)
- Oct 23 - Oct 30 (33)
- Oct 16 - Oct 23 (52)
- Oct 9 - Oct 16 (70)
- Oct 2 - Oct 9 (56)
- Sep 25 - Oct 2 (66)
- Sep 18 - Sep 25 (52)
- Sep 11 - Sep 18 (21)
- Sep 4 - Sep 11 (44)
- Aug 28 - Sep 4 (25)
- Aug 21 - Aug 28 (27)
- Aug 14 - Aug 21 (27)
- Aug 7 - Aug 14 (43)
- Jul 31 - Aug 7 (24)
- Jul 24 - Jul 31 (24)
- Jul 17 - Jul 24 (2)
- Jul 10 - Jul 17 (6)
- Jul 3 - Jul 10 (23)
- Jun 26 - Jul 3 (38)
- Jun 19 - Jun 26 (14)
- Jun 12 - Jun 19 (14)
- Jun 5 - Jun 12 (24)
- May 29 - Jun 5 (29)
- May 22 - May 29 (69)
- May 15 - May 22 (81)
- May 8 - May 15 (35)
- May 1 - May 8 (21)
- Apr 24 - May 1 (31)
- Apr 17 - Apr 24 (25)
- Apr 10 - Apr 17 (23)
- Apr 3 - Apr 10 (38)
- Mar 27 - Apr 3 (50)
- Mar 20 - Mar 27 (7)
- Mar 13 - Mar 20 (41)
- Mar 6 - Mar 13 (24)
- Feb 28 - Mar 6 (18)
- Feb 21 - Feb 28 (20)
- Feb 14 - Feb 21 (1)
- Feb 7 - Feb 14 (51)
- Jan 31 - Feb 7 (30)
- Jan 24 - Jan 31 (24)
- Jan 17 - Jan 24 (5)
- Jan 10 - Jan 17 (17)
- Jan 3 - Jan 10 (36)
- Dec 27 - Jan 3 (23)
- Dec 20 - Dec 27 (16)
- Dec 13 - Dec 20 (39)
- Dec 6 - Dec 13 (37)
- Nov 29 - Dec 6 (48)
- Nov 22 - Nov 29 (42)
- Nov 15 - Nov 22 (29)
- Nov 8 - Nov 15 (17)
- Nov 1 - Nov 8 (11)
- Oct 25 - Nov 1 (27)
- Oct 18 - Oct 25 (7)
- Oct 11 - Oct 18 (26)
- Oct 4 - Oct 11 (54)
- Sep 27 - Oct 4 (21)
- Sep 20 - Sep 27 (63)
- Sep 13 - Sep 20 (25)
- Sep 6 - Sep 13 (16)
- Aug 30 - Sep 6 (11)
- Aug 23 - Aug 30 (12)
- Aug 16 - Aug 23 (11)
- Aug 9 - Aug 16 (17)
- Aug 2 - Aug 9 (37)
- Jul 26 - Aug 2 (16)
- Jul 19 - Jul 26 (10)
- Jul 5 - Jul 12 (38)
- Jun 28 - Jul 5 (20)
- Jun 21 - Jun 28 (9)
- Jun 14 - Jun 21 (24)
- Jun 7 - Jun 14 (60)
- May 31 - Jun 7 (69)
- May 24 - May 31 (97)
- May 17 - May 24 (35)
- May 10 - May 17 (28)
- May 3 - May 10 (42)
- Apr 26 - May 3 (24)
- Apr 19 - Apr 26 (2)
- Apr 12 - Apr 19 (16)
- Apr 5 - Apr 12 (31)
- Mar 29 - Apr 5 (1)
- Sep 21 - Sep 28 (1)
- Aug 17 - Aug 24 (2)
- Aug 10 - Aug 17 (130)
- Aug 3 - Aug 10 (220)
- Jul 27 - Aug 3 (170)
- Jul 13 - Jul 20 (5)
- Jul 6 - Jul 13 (149)
- Jun 29 - Jul 6 (171)
- Jun 22 - Jun 29 (231)
- Jun 15 - Jun 22 (153)
- Jun 8 - Jun 15 (133)
- Jun 1 - Jun 8 (102)
- May 25 - Jun 1 (140)
- May 18 - May 25 (171)
- May 11 - May 18 (155)
- May 4 - May 11 (205)
- Apr 27 - May 4 (220)
- Apr 20 - Apr 27 (155)
- Apr 13 - Apr 20 (201)
- Apr 6 - Apr 13 (218)
- Mar 30 - Apr 6 (209)
- Mar 23 - Mar 30 (248)
- Mar 16 - Mar 23 (255)
- Mar 9 - Mar 16 (272)
- Mar 2 - Mar 9 (340)
- Feb 23 - Mar 2 (311)
- Feb 16 - Feb 23 (237)
- Feb 9 - Feb 16 (229)
- Feb 2 - Feb 9 (98)
- Jan 26 - Feb 2 (91)
- Jan 19 - Jan 26 (14)
- Jan 12 - Jan 19 (82)
- Jan 5 - Jan 12 (46)
- Dec 22 - Dec 29 (95)
- Dec 15 - Dec 22 (7)
- Dec 8 - Dec 15 (78)
- Dec 1 - Dec 8 (33)
- Nov 24 - Dec 1 (40)
- Nov 17 - Nov 24 (61)
- Nov 10 - Nov 17 (14)
- Oct 27 - Nov 3 (42)
- Oct 20 - Oct 27 (238)
- Oct 13 - Oct 20 (269)
- Oct 6 - Oct 13 (284)
- Sep 29 - Oct 6 (204)
- Sep 22 - Sep 29 (220)
- Sep 15 - Sep 22 (257)
- Sep 8 - Sep 15 (164)
No comments:
Post a Comment