It was Election Day in the mountains and deserts and of Afghanistan yesterday. Despite pre-election violence and Taliban threats to disrupt the vote, millions of Afghans turned out to vote for thousands of candidates — who included many women — to a national parliament and provincial councils.

Officially, the balloting marked the last formal step to democratic government after the US-led invasion of the country in 2001. President Hamid Karzai called the day “history-making.”

But the Afghan challenge is far from over. Thirty thousand foreign troops still patrol. The Taliban still threatens. The narcotics trade is booming and warlords may dominate the parliament.

Hear about the new challenges in Afghanistan after its most recent elections.

Guests:

Kathy Gannon, author of “I Is For Infidel” and was an Associated Press correspondent in Pakistan and Afghanistan from 1986-2005

J. Alexander Thier, legal advisor to Afghanistan’s Constitutional and Judicial Commissions

Afghanistan Foreign Minister Abdullah

Paul Watson, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.