Photo Gallery Karzai's Man
Zalmai Rassoul is one of several candidates vying to succeed Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's president. He has long been a close ally of the outgoing president and many believe that, if he were elected, it would secure lasting influence for Karzai over Afghanistan.
The election is to be held on April 5 and the campaign has been heating up. But so too has violence in the country, with the Taliban threatening to attack voters. On Tuesday, suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the election commission building in Kabul. Several people were killed.
Despite the threat of violence, thousands have been turning out to attend campaign events. Here, supporters of candidate Ashraf Ghani listen to him speak in Jalalabad on Thursday.
Hamid Karzai is prevented from running for office again this time by term limits. He has become embittered and feels abandoned by the US.
Abdullah Abdullah is also running for the presidency. Many believe that the first round of voting could result in a run-off between Abdullah and either Rassoul or Ghani.
Ashraf Ghani speaking at a rally in Jalalabad on Thursday. Hamid Karzai's older brothers also sought to run, but the president put an end to their aspirations.
Supporters of Habiba Sarabi, the only woman among the nine presidential candidates, at a rally in mid March. She has significant support, which is presumeably why Rassoul has chosen her as his vice presidential candidate.
Hamid Karzai's older brother Qayyum also wanted to run for the presidency. But the president put a stop to his candidacy.
A rally for Zalmai Rassoul in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. Campaign events in the country this spring have a celebratory feel.
