DHAKA: As Afghanistan goes to polls on Saturday, the exercise promises to be as much of a game-changer as the Indian elections.

Whatever the outcome, the fact that it will also constitute the first peaceful transition from one government to another is an achievement in itself.

Millions of Afghans are set to vote for a new president in what will be the nation`s first ever transfer of power through the ballot box.

A massive security operation is under way to thwart the Taliban which has vowed to disrupt the election.

Eight candidates are vying to succeed Hamid Karzai, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term as president.

The poll has already been overshadowed by the shooting of two journalists.

Award-winning German photographer Anja Niedringhaus was killed and veteran Canadian reporter Kathy Gannon was injured when a police commander opened fire on their car in the eastern town of Khost on Friday. They had both worked for Associated Press for many years.

It was the latest in a string of deadly attacks that have marred the lead-up to the election.

The biggest military operation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 has been rolled out for Saturday`s election, says the BBC`s David Loyn in Kabul.

Traffic was prevented from entering the Afghan capital from midday on Friday, with police checkpoints erected at every junction.

All 400,000 of the country`s police and soldiers have been deployed to provide security for voters attending the polling stations, officials said.

International observers are increasingly optimistic that both the tight security and a number of new guarantees against fraud will make this a fairer election than Afghanistan has seen before, our correspondent says.

Source: BBC
BDST: 2036 HRS, APR 05, 2014