MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): The United States is not backing any particular candidate for next year’s presidential election in Afghanistan, an American civilian representative said on Tuesday.
Peter Kastner, the US civilian representative in northern Afghanistan, was speaking to reporters in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, at the conclusion of a three-day seminar.
In brief remarks, Kastner called preparations made so far in connection with the April 5 elections as satisfactory, saying the US hoped for credible and fair polls.
But the US representative asked the Afghan government to do more to boost people’s confidence and enable them to participate more actively in the electoral process.
“The US is not supporting any particular candidate, but assisting the Afghan government in ensuring election transparency,” he insisted.
Expressing concern over administrative corruption,  Kastner warned if the Afghan government failed to do away with the menace, it could negatively impact international aid to the impoverished nation.
ma/mud