But "Arman-e Melli" also hints at concerns that sophisticated efforts are afoot to rig the voting, and it suggests that authorities must act quickly to address the electorate's biggest fears of vote fraud. Aside from criticism voiced elsewhere -- the absence of candidate photos and the transportation of ballot boxes before they are counted, as well as perceived official pressure -- the paper shares two major concerns. The first echoes fears expressed on 7 August by National Understanding Front Chairman Mohammad Yunos Qanuni: millions of "extra" ballots. Why incur the cost of 40 million ballots when there are just 24 million potential voters?

"Arman-e Melli" also argues that the limit on allowable campaign spending (of 750,000-afghanis for candidates to the Wolesi Jirga and half that figure for provincial council hopefuls) might actually "reduce the allure of candidates' election campaigns." The paper neglects to spell out the danger that this decree presents in any specific terms, however. But it does encourage authorities to "address these worries and remove these obstacles."

[The daily "Arman-e Melli" was founded in 2002 by the Afghan Interim Authority.]

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The daily "Eslah" decries the targeting of civilians by Taliban insurgents to foster insecurity ahead of next month's elections as un-Islamic. In an editorial on 14 August titled "Killing A Muslim Without Cause Is Akin To Killing A Community," the paper notes particularly acute security concerns in the south of the country, including Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

"Eslah" asserts that government and international troops have "begun to destroy the military might" of the insurgents, suggesting that decapitations and attacks on "defenseless civilian" targets "demonstrate that opponents of the [government] administration have lost the power to fight government forces face-to-face."

Killing innocents to stoke public fear and deter the election process "contravenes Islamic teachings," according to "Eslah," which adds that the Koran teaches that killing someone without cause is "like killing a community." "No matter why it was done, the beheading of five men [whom neo-Taliban elements described as having been clandestine agents in Helmand Province] without a trial and the bomb explosion at a crowded location in Kandahar undoubtedly contravene Koranic teachings and Islamic principles," the daily concludes.

["Eslah" is a Dari-language, state-run daily.]

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The government-financed Herat daily "Ittefaq-e Islam" on 14 August predicts the defeat of Taliban forces and claims -- based on statements from coalition forces -- that recent infighting among neo-Taliban leaders is undermining their campaign of insurgency.

In an editorial titled "Rising Tension And Discord Among The Taliban," "Ittefaq-e Islam" says "repeated Taliban defeats in a majority of the country have spawned rising tension between [neo-Taliban] and their supporters in every province, resulting on a daily basis in the disbanding of their forces and other groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda." The paper says "increasing tension among the leaders of the Taliban has undermined their strength and resulted in their weak response to the government" at the same time that "public hatred of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda has grown." The resulting situation has presented the insurgency with "a challenging dilemma and affected [its] activities," the paper adds.

Neo-Taliban leaders are increasingly frustrated by a lack of indications that their efforts are having any effect, according to "Ittefaq-e Islam," prompting many to abandon the insurgency and "join the government side."

Foreign efforts have also contributed to stifling any neo-Taliban momentum through international peace efforts, foreign condemnation of the insurgency, and "fierce criticism from political parties, particularly in Pakistan," the editorial claims. "It sounds like Taliban supporters have lost their credibility and notoriety," the "Ittefaq-e Islam" asserts. It cites the case of former Taliban leader Mullah Jailani, who it says has joined with government forces in Paktiya Province.

"Ittefaq-e Islam" concludes that -- as hope grows that "disruptive acts by these terrorist groups will prove abortive" -- attempts to "disrupt and destabilize the situation will merely undermine [the insurgents'] position. Eventually both the Taliban and their leaders will be thoroughly defeated."

["Ittefaq-e Islam" is a government-funded daily based in the western city of Herat.]

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The Kabul-based daily "Anis" exhorts NATO member states to use the opportunity provided by increased security measures ahead of elections to "fulfill their commitments by deploying NATO troops all across Afghanistan."

In an editorial titled "NATO In Afghanistan: Challenges And Fulfilling Commitments" on 11 August, "Anis" notes that NATO units have begun arriving with the mission of safeguarding the upcoming parliamentary and provincial-council elections, adding that 2,000 additional NATO troops should be in Afghanistan by the end of August.

The commitment of NATO and its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commitment "demonstrates that NATO is committed to further measures to maintain security throughout the country before and during the elections," the paper says. It goes on to argue that "now is the proper time" for NATO countries to extend their security presence beyond those areas already under ISAF protection.

"[W]e cannot ignore the challenges and threats that enemies [of peace and stability] pose" to Afghanistan, "Anis" warns.

"It is highly likely that the security situation will deteriorate dramatically and the Afghan people and government will fail to conduct parliamentary elections in a fair and non-problematic way if practical steps are not taken to expand NATO's presence throughout the country during the elections," "Anis" claims. "It is clear that poor security signals the failure of NATO's mission in Afghanistan."

In a subsequent editorial on 15 August, "Anis" further cautions authorities concerning the security preparations for the balloting: "There will be thousands of polling stations all around the country. We know that militia forces rather than the disciplined [Afghan] National Army still dominate most provinces. If the country's security forces, national army, and intelligence services do not work in concerted fashion under such circumstances, it will be difficult or even impossible to provide adequate security for the upcoming vote."

["Anis" (Friend) is a pro-administration evening daily that is funded by the government. It was established in 1928 but shut down once under the mujahedin regime and again under the Taliban. A small publication, it enjoys considerable distribution among government offices.]

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The independent daily "Cheragh" notes with alarm the "daunting challenges" ahead of the upcoming balloting and urges the central government to act decisively. But it also suggests in clear terms that the government in neighboring Pakistan could do more -- or less, depending on how you look at it -- to allow for fair elections.

The paper notes the recent assassinations of parliamentary candidates in Ghazni, Paktika, and Zabol provinces and says that in light of such tactics, "candidates are afraid that they will be targeted by terrorist attacks if they launch campaigns in their regions."

"Cheragh" concludes: "It's now up to the Afghan government to make every effort -- including through diplomatic, military, and political channels -- to maintain security during the election campaign and on polling day. The best way would be to ask the international community to apply pressure on the Pakistani government to stop it from interfering in Afghan affairs."

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