<p>"The Presidential and the provincial elections are the most important event that will happen in Afghanistan this year. We wish the Afghans well in their election tomorrow. I think, this is an important event in choosing their own leaders," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at his daily press briefing on Wednesday.<br /><br />Gibbs said the US will continue to monitor the security situation in the country on the election day. "The President increased our troop commitment, to Afghanistan, based on a belief that the security situation for these elections was tremendously important. We certainly continue to monitor that," he said.<br /><br />However, Obama Administration's top point man for the region, Richard Holbrooke did not issue any statement on the eve of the elections.<br /><br />Neither did the US issue the customary congratulatory message to the people of Afghanistan on the occasion of the country's 90th Independence Day yesterday. <br /><br />Gibbs insisted that the goal of the US is to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its extremist allies and said it is important for America's national security, homeland security and for the security of the rest of the world.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the State Department said the US has been very encouraged by the vigorous debate seen in run up to the polls.<br /><br />"We have seen thousands of Afghans, despite all the intimidation, come to rallies. We have seen also a number of debates on radio and television. These are very vigorous debates on the issues that are facing the Afghan people," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.<br /><br />"The important thing is that this is the first election in Afghanistan that has been organised by Afghan institutions," Kelly said in response to a question.</p>
<p>"The Presidential and the provincial elections are the most important event that will happen in Afghanistan this year. We wish the Afghans well in their election tomorrow. I think, this is an important event in choosing their own leaders," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at his daily press briefing on Wednesday.<br /><br />Gibbs said the US will continue to monitor the security situation in the country on the election day. "The President increased our troop commitment, to Afghanistan, based on a belief that the security situation for these elections was tremendously important. We certainly continue to monitor that," he said.<br /><br />However, Obama Administration's top point man for the region, Richard Holbrooke did not issue any statement on the eve of the elections.<br /><br />Neither did the US issue the customary congratulatory message to the people of Afghanistan on the occasion of the country's 90th Independence Day yesterday. <br /><br />Gibbs insisted that the goal of the US is to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its extremist allies and said it is important for America's national security, homeland security and for the security of the rest of the world.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the State Department said the US has been very encouraged by the vigorous debate seen in run up to the polls.<br /><br />"We have seen thousands of Afghans, despite all the intimidation, come to rallies. We have seen also a number of debates on radio and television. These are very vigorous debates on the issues that are facing the Afghan people," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.<br /><br />"The important thing is that this is the first election in Afghanistan that has been organised by Afghan institutions," Kelly said in response to a question.</p>