A credible election whose results reflect the genuine will of the Afghan people and are accepted by the broad range of stakeholders is fundamental for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

In a report on Afghanistan to UN Security Council, Guterres said that it was imperative that the electoral institutions continually and consistently communicate with all stakeholders and respond to all questions being raised by candidates and others.
“I strongly encourage all stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and enable the electoral institutions to exercise their responsibilities in full, including by addressing all complaints through the appropriate legal and institutional channels,” Guterres said.
He also urged the candidates to disavow fraud by their supporters, engage constructively in the process and respect the authority of the electoral management bodies.
“Once electoral complaints have been adjudicated in accordance with the law, I urge the candidates and their supporters to accept the outcome,” Guterres said.
On security, Guterres said that security situation in Afghanistan remained volatile, with high number of security incidents. From 1 July to 30 September 2019, the number of civilian casualties was the highest recorded in a single quarter since systematic documentation began in 2009, he said.
He said that direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban were imperative for the achievement of a lasting and sustainable peace.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report on 16 December in New York.