Afghanistan recorded around 40 percent polling during the parliamentary elections held yesterday amidst threats of Taliban violence. An initial turnout issued by election commission showed around 22 lakh male and 15 lakh female voters turned out to cast their ballots as 15 people including three police, one army jawan and 11 civilians were killed in the election day violence. Interior Minister Bismullah Mohammadi said 13 police officers and 45 civilians were also injured. Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said that by the close of voting, it had recorded 303 incidents of election-related violence, compared with 479 during last year’s presidential poll. United nations, United states and European commission have congratulated people on the successful conduct of elections saying it was a fully Afghan-led process. Counting of votes was held at the respective centres but it will take time to tally up the results. Final results are expected only by end of next month.