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VOA - Arts and Entertainment

Polls have closed in Afghanistan's presidential election amid threats of militant attacks and logistical issues.

Officials said voter turnout was low as the Taliban carried out small-scale attacks and made threats against polling stations, prompting some Afghans to say they would not vote.

One Afghan, however, told the French news agency that he would cast his ballot.  Mohiuddin, who only gave one name, said, "I am not afraid.  We have to vote if we want to bring change to our lives."

Tens of thousands of Afghan security forces were deployed across the country to protect voters and the more than 4,000 polling stations.

Afghan incumbent president and presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani arrives to cast his vote in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2019.

An Interior Ministry official said at least 23 people were injured in the small-scale attacks during early voting. He said other attacks were thwarted.

Voting was extended by at least one hour after polls throughout the country did not open on time due to technical and safety problems.

Some election observers expressed concern about the final results after the Independent Election Commission said, without giving a reason, it had failed to establish contact with about 900 of the more than 4,900 polling stations, according to Reuters news agency.

The Associated Press cited authorities as saying more than 430 polling centers remained closed all day since their safety could not be guaranteed.

The two main contenders in the election are incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, and his partner in the five-year-old unity government, Abdullah Abdullah.

Voting in Kabul, Afghanistan (B. Hamdard/VOA)

Preliminary results won't be released until October 17.

The victor will play a key role in ending the war with the Taliban and in any new talks between the group and the U.S. after they were called off earlier this month.

The election was the country's fourth presidential election since the toppling of the Taliban in 2001.

The presidential campaign had been marred by violence since the beginning.  Last week, 26 people were killed at a Ghani rally.

Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah casts his vote at a polling station in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2019.

The Taliban had warned the country's more than 9 million voters to stay home or face severe consequences. The militant group controls more of the country than at any time since it fell from power 18 years ago.

Pakistan decided to open its border crossings with Afghanistan to allow Afghan citizens to return home to vote.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said Saturday it had received a request from Afghanistan "on very short notice for border facilitation."

Pakistan had been set to close its Afghan border Saturday and Sunday to avoid any cross-border incursions during the Afghan elections.

Afghanistan has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harboring Taliban militants.  Pakistan has always denied the charge.