Media analysis and opinion polls have shown that in face of the failure of the international forces to ensure security and contain insurgency, the Afghan intelligents and the masses have become more conscious, realizing the need to determine the political leadership of their country by themselves.

The new Afghan political administration – whether under Karzai or any other president – would have to pay more attention to the socio-economic development of the country.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Afghanistan is the poorest country in the entire Asia and Pacific region.

The ADB economic indicator said: "Lack of employment opportunities and endemic poverty continue among a large segment of the population, with two thirds of the population living below or just above the country's official poverty line."

The new Afghan government would also have to ensure good governance and tackle the issue of corruption, which is rampant in Afghanistan.

Western governments and international organizations have in recent months taken a serious exception to corruption and misadministration, which is hampering their plans to putting Afghanistan back on track.

Besides, it would be under obligation to control the monster of narcotics production and smuggling, which continues to rank Afghanistan as the top drug producing country of the world.

Afghan national army soldiers prepare a machine gun at a vehicle check point in Kandahar province August 19, 2009. [Xinhua]

The present election is a turning point in Afghanistan's political history.

The problems unearthed and worries exposed during the election process have equally obliged the upcoming leadership, the US-led international coalition, and the Afghan people and their political forces to look into the imbroglio from a totally changed perspective.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2009)