Elections in Afghanistan: Afghans resist despite Taliban attacks to derail the vote

Kabul, Afghanistan – The US General in Afghanistan escaped Thursday an insider attack in Kandahar province, which killed three senior Afghan officials, including the chief of the provincial police. General Scott Miller was not injured, but a US service member and two civilians were injured. The attack took place after a meeting to discuss security for Saturday's parliamentary elections, amid threatening threats emanating from the Taliban and the Islamic State.

The plastered display panels in this capital show new candidates looking for a chance to create a change. But at two days of the election, it is the near-certainty of the violence that worries the locals.

Police Chief Bismillah Taban said the mere number of voters expected on polling day brought the security risk to a whole new level. The holding of the elections means the establishment of one of the largest security operations ever seen in this country, with 54,000 security agents deployed in Afghanistan.

More than 2500 candidates vie for 249 seats in Parliament. There are more than 5,000 polling stations across the country, but more than 2,000 have already been closed due to a high risk of attack.

Ten candidates have been murdered in the last two months, including a Wednesday by a bomb placed on his couch. ISIS attacks in recent months have left dozens of dead and the Taliban issued repeated warnings to voters to stay away on election day, or face the risk of dying. to be attacked.

This did not deter candidates like American Afghan Mariam Solaimankhail. Born and raised in the United States, she decided to move to Afghanistan from Los Angeles, where she was a businesswoman. She said it was vital that people like her get into the race.

"People are tired of seeing corrupted men, it's a new face, it's new and they know that my life in the United States is beautiful and that I do not need to steal these poor people, "she said.

But she recognized as a woman and American that she is a prime target for the Taliban.

At the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, CBS News has found young students willing to take the risk of going out and voting.

"We must stand up to this crisis in our country," said a young man. "If we do not do it, we will fall apart."

"Of course I'm scared because we are human beings," a woman told us. "We love each other and do not want to die, especially me, I am too young to die, but my country is always important to me."

A successful election will not only help shape the new government, but send a message of challenge to those who will oppose it.