This quarterly report for April 30, 2014 on the status of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan shows that Afghanistan has enjoyed a rare moment of optimism. On April 5, 2014, more than 7 million Afghans, 35% of them women, went to the polls to choose a new president and provincial council members. Despite Taliban threats and murderous attacks on foreigners and Afghans in the weeks leading up to the elections, the Afghan National Security Forces managed to keep most polling stations open. A runoff is likely between two presidential candidates, who have promised to sign a bilateral security agreement which would keep some U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

However, dangers remain for U.S.-funded reconstruction. The World Bank predicts that Afghanistan will suffer an economic contraction as Coalition troops draw down, while the Afghan government's expenses have increased. The revenue decline comes at a time when dozens of reconstruction projects are being turned over to the Afghan government. Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.