,,iii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #cdd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #bf1 #bjai  
,mrs4 ,%ahe5 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,tillis1   
,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,ms4 ,ern/1  
,mr4 ,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,g>dn]1 ,mr4 ,r\nds1 
,mr4 ,re$1 & ,mr4 ,ris*7 submitt$ !     
foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !    
,committee on ,=eign ,relations         
,,resolution  ,express+ support = a     
cr$ible1 inclusive1 & transp>5t         
presid5tial election 9 ,afghani/an on   
,septemb] #bh1 #bjai4  ,:]eas           
,afghani/an w hold a presid5tial        
election on ,septemb] #bh1 #bjai1 9 :i* 
! citiz5s ( ,afghani/an w h an          
opportunity to p>ticipate2 ,:]eas1      
accord+ to ! ,unit$ ,nations ,population
 ,fund1 #fc4g p]c5t ( ! p ( ,afghani/an 
are "u #be ye>s ( age1 reflect+ ! ne$ = 
a fully function+ & transp>5t gov]nm5t  
to adm9i/] & provide s]vices to ! y\? ( 
,afghani/an1 :o are fac+ significant    
*all5ges relat$ to heal?1 education1 &  
employm5t2 ,:]eas1 9 ! la/ p>liam5t>y   

election 9 #bjah1 m ?an #c1jjj1jjj p 9  
,afghani/an ex]cis$ ! democratic "r to  
*oose ! individuals :o w\ld repres5t ! p
 ( ,afghani/an 9 p>liam5t2 ,:]eas       
,afghani/an has made significant        
progress on human rights1 includ+ !     
rights ( wom5 & m9orities1 :i* are      
en%r9$ 9 ! con/itution ( ,afghani/an &  
fur!r protect$ by ! p>ticipation ( ! p (
 ,afghani/an 9 democratic elections2    
,:]eas free & fair elections are a      
fundam5tal "p ( a /rong democracy & all[
 ! citiz5s ( a c\ntry to ex]cise full   
civil1 political1 & human rights2 ,:]eas
 a cr$ible electoral process is necess>y
 = citiz5s ( a c\ntry to tru/ 9 !       
democratic in/itutions & political      
lead]s ( t c\ntry2 ,:]eas elections %\ld
 s]ve z peaceful processes ?r\gh :i* ! w
 ( ! vot]s is express$ & political p[]  
is transf]r$ or reaffirm$2 ,:]eas ! p ( 
,afghani/an w g to ! polls to ex]cise _!
 democratic "r to vote amid height5$    
?reats & attacks by ! ,taliban2 ,:]eas !
 ,taliban has t>get$ campaign rallies1  

c&idates1 & election ev5ts1 result+ 9   
#dh dea?s on ,septemb] #ag1 #bjai1      
alone2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #bjja1 ! ,unit$     
,/ates has inve/$ significantly 9 ef=ts 
to br+ security & /ability to ! region1 
acc\nt+ = m ?an #hjj1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 ef=ts
 t include--  7#a7 help+ to rebuild     
,afghani/an1 includ+ ef=ts to rebuild & 
re=m ! in/itutions ( ,afghani/an2 &     
7#b7 help+ to def5d ! rights ( ! p (    
,afghani/an2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #bjja1 m ?an  
#gge1jjj memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates h be5 deploy$ to          
,afghani/an1 ( :i*--  7#a7 m ?an #bj1ejj
 h be5 w\nd$2 &  7#b7 m ?an #b1djj h di$
 :ile s]v+2  ,:]eas ! int]national      
community has also made critical        
inve/m5ts 9 democratic processes &      
in/itutions 9 ,afghani/an2 ,:]eas !     
,nor? ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization   
7ref]r$ to 9 ?is preamble z ,,nato7     
invok$ ,article ,v ( ! ,nor? ,atlantic  
,treaty = ! fir/ "t 9 hi/ory 9 ! wake ( 
! attacks on ! ,unit$ ,/ates on         
,septemb] #aa1 #bjja2 ,:]eas1 s9ce !    

date on :i* ,,nato invok$ ,article ,v ( 
! ,nor? ,atlantic ,treaty1 ! longe/ &   
mo/ *all5g+ mission ( ,,nato has be5 9  
comm&+ ! ,int]national ,security        
,assi/ance ,=ce m&at$ by ! ,unit$       
,nations--  7#a7 beg9n+ 9 ,augu/ #bjjc &
 end+ 9 ,decemb] #bjad2 &  7#b7 :i*1 at 
its l>ge/1 compris$ m ?an #acj1jjj      
troops f #ej ,,nato allies & p>tn]      
c\ntries2  ,:]eas1 9 ,janu>y #bjae1     
,,nato laun*$ ! ,resolute ,support      
,mission1 :i* comprises approximately   
#ag1jjj troops f #ci ,,nato allies &    
p>tn] c\ntries z ( ,septemb] #bjai2     
,:]eas ! ,afghan ,national ,def5se &    
,security ,=ces w h responsibility =    
provid+ security = ! presid5tial        
election 9 ,afghani/an on ,septemb] #bh1
 #bjai2 ,:]eas1 despite ?reats f !      
,taliban1 p across ,afghani/an are risk+
 _! lives to support1 adm9i/]1 & secure 
democratic election op]ations1 includ+--
  7#a7 #ac1jjj wom5 & m5 :o are s]v+ z  
indep5d5t election obs]v]s2  7#b7       
#ej1jjj citiz5s ( ,afghani/an :o h sign$

 up to be poll wat*]s f ! political     
p>ties2 &  7#c7 m ?an #bjj memb]s ( !   
indep5d5t m$ia :o h be5 accr$it$ to cov]
 & report on ! campaigns & election     
processes2 &  ,:]eas a democratically   
elect$ & legitimate gov]nm5t t reflects 
! w ( ! p ( ,afghani/an is 9 ! security 
int]e/s ( ,afghani/an & ! allies (      
,afghani/an1 includ+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates3   
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7    
expresses support = a cr$ible1          
inclusive1 & transp>5t presid5tial      
election 9 ,afghani/an on ,septemb] #bh1
 #bjai2  7#b7 comm5ds ! p ( ,afghani/an 
= _! commitm5t to democracy1 ! rule (   
law1 & free & fair elections2  7#c7     
condemns all ?reats aga9/ ! adm9i/ration
 ( free & fair democratic elections1    
includ+ all acts ( t]rorism design$ to  
depress turn\t & intimidate vot]s2 &    
7#d7 reaffirms ! commitm5t ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,gov]nm5t to peace & /ability 9  
fur!rance ( a democratic ,afghani/an4