Afghanistan is in the grip of the second presidential campaign in its history. By their nature, elections are polarising events. However, in the case of Afghanistan, with its limited experience in electoral politics and ongoing insurgency, there is a real risk that the campaign could further destabilise the country.

I know, and have seen and felt, the tragedy of Afghanistan. Its origins lie in the cycle of no-holds-barred political competition among internal rivals and the decisions of foreign powers to manipulate Afghan factions for their own purposes. These actions, by Afghans and outsiders, have cost Afghanistan millions of lives and consigned it to isolation and poverty at a time of rising worldwide prosperity. The destructive cycle was interrupted by the overthrow of the Taliban regime and United Nations-sponsored Bonn process. The test today is to build on that success.