NATO-led peacekeeping troops will boost their numbers by almost a third to 8,500 in time for the polls to secure Kabul and parts of the quieter northern provinces.
In the south, 18,500 US-led troops will provide some security for the ballot, but the bulk of the work will be done by officers from Afghanistan's fledgling police force.
In many cases security will be provided by men drawn from the forces of local warlords who have intimidated voters, warned Vikram Parekh, analyst with the International Crisis Group.
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