On April 5 the world applauded the success of Afghanistan's elections and congratulated the approximately seven million men and women who braved Taliban threats, bad weather, and long lines to cast their votes. Afghans proudly displayed their ink-stained fingers, hopeful for their country and emphatically rejecting the empty, barren Taliban vision for Afghanistan. The Afghan National Security Forces performed superbly in protecting the people and the elections.

The electoral commissions administered the election and adjudicated complaints, working hard to produce results accepted by the Afghan people. Afghans are proud of what they have achieved with the elections, and they should be.

Now, with the second round of elections in a few days, the people of Afghanistan have a truly unique historic opportunity before them to enter a new era. This imposes a heavy responsibility on the candidates and their supporters, and on the Afghan elections and security institutions. Success will be an outcome that is broadly accepted by Afghans, unites the country, and produces a strong president who has a mandate to govern and lead. This result will open the way to continued progress for Afghanistan, and for the support which the United States and its partners wish to provide. An outcome which produces division, confrontation and prolonged uncertainty will make that progress and support much more difficult to secure. No one should be complacent about what is at stake in the coming weeks.

We call on both candidates to direct their campaigns and supporters not to engage in fraud. Fraud will be discovered and undermine the credibility of those who commit it. We further call on both candidates to support the electoral commissions and their work, and to refrain from criticism that is not supported with clear evidence. We also respectfully urge both campaigns to avoid divisive messages or negative personal attacks. The Afghan people need their next president to bring Afghanistan together.

The government and the elections and security institutions must be professional and neutral in carrying out their duties at every level. The credibility of the elections depends on the Commissions and the security ministries and forces fulfilling their responsibilities impartially, without favor or the intrusion of politics.

The transparency of the Commissions in their work is critical to the confidence of the Afghan people in the vote. Here too, if the institutions become complicit in fraud, it will be known.

It is our fervent hope that the two candidates, with the future of their country in their hands at this unprecedented time, will not seek a winner-take-all outcome.

Instead, we look to them and their supporters to promote inclusion and national unity. That will be necessary to move Afghanistan forward. Likewise, whoever does not win the presidency can show leadership by accepting the results and joining the effort, with the new president, to build a better Afghanistan. With a successful election and the early signature of our Bilateral Security Agreement, which both candidates support, the next president will have a strong foundation from which to address Afghanistan's challenges. This foundation includes continued support to strengthen the ANSF, and the economic and development assistance crucial to Afghanistan's future.

The United States looks forward to working with whomever the Afghan people choose through a credible, inclusive, and transparent process. That is the responsibility of the Afghan voter: to return to the polling station with the same commitment as on April 5. Each Afghan who does so on June 14 demonstrates the determination that gives great hope for a better, more prosperous and stronger Afghanistan.