Afghan elections: 'Hawa'

BBC News Online and BBCMundo.com spoke to Afghan voters about their hopes for the country's upcoming presidential elections.

Fridoon: Kabul, Afghanistan "Foreign countries will choose their candidate" Younus: Kabul, Afghanistan "He's got experience... I'll vote for Karzai" Zarmina: Europe "We Afghan people must think wisely this time"

Nishanud: Khost, Afghanistan "There will be problems" Haseeb: New Jersey, USA "I am very optimistic about the outcome" 'Hawa': Kabul, Afghanistan "I see an enthusiasm mixed with fear"

'Hawa'

As the elections are approaching I see an enthusiasm mixed with fear in the faces of every Afghan.

They seem full of pride now they can say who should be the next president of Afghanistan.

I oppose those who say it is just a show or that the next president will also be a puppet of Americans, the term they use for President Karzai.

We should not forget our civil war, in which thousands of innocent people were killed in Kabul and our own Afghans turned the city upside down.

Now we see these people responsible for war are standing as candidates for the presidency.

And then the Taleban - there was no force to defeat them except the US.

How they will expect people to vote for them - everyone knows they fought just for their own benefits, for getting money and power.

Some candidates are going further and are asking for a date for withdrawal of foreign forces.

They forget the point - we do need for the presence of foreign forces and international support until our country is standing on its own feet, until we possess a reliable national army and until we become economically self-sufficient.

But Afghans become nervous of the Americans when they stood by the warlords and strengthened them.

They should recognise real devoted Afghans.

A few days ago one of the candidates expressed his concerns that the future of this country might be non-Islamic. That is funny - if they are in power everything is OK and Islamic but, if they are out of power, the country will be non-Islamic!

I hope in the next election we will see more national faces and mature politicians. President Karzai resembles a national face, not just a Pashtun, because he has supported other tribes more than his Pashtuns.

I hope for a stable country, which will be a magnet for those educated people who have left the country to return and take part in all political and economical affairs.

I wish for fair and peaceful elections, and the outcome of the elections, whatever it may be, should be acceptable to all of us.

I hope after the elections no-one uses (especially warlords) their forces to remain in power, use new tricks or make allies.

The loser must accept his or her defeat.

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Send us your comments on 'Hawa''s views using the form below.

Yes, after 25 years of unforgettable war, the Afghan nation is getting ready for free and fair elections. Among our all presidential candidates Mr Hamid Karzai is the only person that we may trust because he is the only one who feels our pain, he is the only one among us who may guide the Afghan nation in the right way
Ahmad Faraz, Sofia, Bulgaria

I hope one day "Hawa" feels comfortable enough to speak about Afghan elections without having to resort to using a fake identity.
Tim, Georgia, USA