By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/abdullah-on-transparent-elections Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Abdullah: ‘Corrective Steps’ Needed to Make Elections More Transparent World May 21, 2010 5:19 PM EDT During a visit to Washington this week, former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah spoke with Margaret Warner about U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the security situation and upcoming jirga aimed at bringing former Taliban fighters back into the fold. You can watch their conversation Friday on the NewsHour. In a Web-only excerpt, Abdullah discusses how upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for September can be more transparent. “I’m very concerned because I don’t see the political will in the Afghan leadership to take the corrective steps,” he says. “But we do have time to work on it and to … turn it into an opportunity for the people.” In last year’s presidential elections, opposition candidate Abdullah unexpectedly dropped out of the race, citing concerns with electoral fraud. President Hamid Karzai went on to win re-election. Warner spoke to Karzai soon after his win about the allegations of fraud in the elections and his efforts to counter governmental corruption. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
During a visit to Washington this week, former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah spoke with Margaret Warner about U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the security situation and upcoming jirga aimed at bringing former Taliban fighters back into the fold. You can watch their conversation Friday on the NewsHour. In a Web-only excerpt, Abdullah discusses how upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for September can be more transparent. “I’m very concerned because I don’t see the political will in the Afghan leadership to take the corrective steps,” he says. “But we do have time to work on it and to … turn it into an opportunity for the people.” In last year’s presidential elections, opposition candidate Abdullah unexpectedly dropped out of the race, citing concerns with electoral fraud. President Hamid Karzai went on to win re-election. Warner spoke to Karzai soon after his win about the allegations of fraud in the elections and his efforts to counter governmental corruption. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now