Campaigning has started for Afghanistan’s presidential election, raising both hope and the spectre of yet more violence.
Even before posters could be put up, two aides of a leading candidate were shot dead.
The upcoming polls are set against a mood of cautious optimism, and continued uncertainty.
The Taliban has rejected the April 5 election. And outgoing President Hamid Karzai has stalled on signing a deal on whether to keep a small force of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
On Inside Story: Can Afghanistan ensure a safe election and a secure future as foreign troops prepare to leave?
Presenter: Shiulie Ghosh
Guests:
Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior
Peter Middlebrook, the CEO of Geopolicity, and a former adviser to the Afghan government
Ahmad Nader Nadery, the founder and chairman of the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan