Today the intense competition begins on Afghan Star, with one of our 12 final contestants eliminated by audience vote. But first we have six duets performed by the contestants. First up are Arash Barez and Nazir Heydari, who please the crowd with a classic love song.  The judges love the pair's performance. 

Our second pair are Nayeb Nayab and Javad Hosseini, who combine their pop and local styles into a lively song that gets the audience on their feet. Judge Ustad Shahla praises the two and it looks like they are favorites to continue to the next round. 

Harun Popalzai and Rabiullah Behzad sing "Shakar" by Farhad Arya, which is also received well by both the judges and the crowd. Harun tells us how he has become friends with the 11 other Afghan Stars in the last few weeks, bonding over their shared love of music. Harun Anvari and Sohrab Elyar get off to a good start, but mess up their lines during their performance - which our host blames on their lack of practice. Judge Ustad Vali urges them to practice more next time. Hosam Farzan and Daoud Pejman buck the trend and perform a slow, calm love song, "Nazanin-e Man" - and the crowd and other contestants sing along! The judges praise the way the two mix their styles and see it as a metaphor for all of Afghanistan' diversity.

Anahita Olfat and Khoshboo Ahmadi, the two women in the top 12, get the crowd on their feet with a fast-paced pop song. Ustad Shahla says the two complement each other and make each other better. 

After the duets, it's finally time to see which contestant won't make it to the next round, based on audience votes. It's a tense moment as Jawad and Harun Popalzai are left on stage to see which one of them will go home.  In the end, Jawad has to go home and we are left with 11 contestants.