Afghanistan will hold a presidential election tomorrow, its second since the overthrowing of the Taliban in 2001.

The nations second ever democratic election will be closely followed by much of the world, including NATO, the Taliban, and of course many peace keeping organizations around the world.

Since 2001 there has been gradual progression in improving equal rights within the Middle Eastern country and the positives so far have been noted.

It has been announced that more than 16 million voters had registered to vote in the up coming election, roughly half of the country’s population, with 35 to 38 percent of registered voters being women.

This is a huge contrast to a decade ago when it was illegal for women to work let alone vote.

The positives will, however, be met with some negatives.

The violence that has already swept across the country in recent weeks to discourage people from voting, is only expected to increase, with many innocent civilians risking their lives by exercising their rights.

In addition, there are question marks over the political motives of the running candidates Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.

Current President Karzai has recently been tied to the nation’s illegal poppy production, which funds the Taliban. He also approved a family law that allows husbands to withhold food from a wife if she refuses to have sex.

Is this the kind of president that will lead Afghanistan out of turmoil and into democratic freedom?

The progression and development of Afghanistan will be a slow building project in which the world will have to be patient.

One cannot expect a country to change its ways of thinking overnight. With most things in life, it will take time.

While there are many imperfections at this stage, Afghanistan are still making baby steps towards becoming a respected democratic nation.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Have Afghanistan made any democratic progression since the toppling of the Taliban in 2001?