Kabul:
Afghanistan votes in only its second parliamentary election in history on Saturday. With repeated Taliban threats to voters, the entire Afghan security apparatus is on high alert. This is the first election since the presidential poll that witnessed massive fraud in 2009. So, the vote is being seen as a defining moment in whether Afghanistan moves up the ladder of democracy or slides further into a cycle of violence.
The NATO-led international force is now at about President Obama's promised surge of 150,000. ISAF, official sources say will operate as a quick response force when needed.
Kabul is plastered with election posters. Till the last day, ballot boxes and election material were being transported to places outside Kabul.
The Taliban have been quiet in the capital in the last few weeks. But, this has been the bloodiest year since they were defeated in 2001. Civilian and military deaths are at record levels. Officially over 500 foreign troops and over 1500 civilians have been killed.