Kabul, July 30 (DPA) The Taliban insurgent movement demanded Thursday that all Afghan people take up arms against the NATO-led forces in the country instead of going to “fake polling stations” during the Aug 20 presidential election.
“In order to gain real independence, instead of going to fake polling stations, they (Afghans) must go to jihadi trenches and through resistance and jihad (holy war) they must get their denied rights from the foreign invaders,” the Taliban said in a statement posted on the rebel website.
“The planning of the elections is done by the Americans, funding is by Americans, providing the security is by the Americans. So based on what logic can we call this an Afghan-led process?” the statement said.
The Taliban’s announcement of their stance to officially boycott the presidential election, the second direct vote for the president in the history of the country, counters recent assumptions that the militant group might not disrupt the upcoming polls.
After striking a peace deal with some commanders of the Taliban in the northwestern province of Badghis Monday, the Afghan government said that efforts were underway in other parts of the country to agree a ceasefire with other militant groups.
Following a peaceful registration process in southern and eastern regions earlier this year, where the Taliban are most active, Afghan election commission officials have also expressed hopes that the Taliban were not intending to disrupt the election.
Thursday’s statement said that by holding elections, the NATO and US forces were trying to divert the world’s attention from their military failure in the country.
The statement also called on Taliban fighters, who have recently intensified their attacks throughout the country and attacked campaign officials, to target the polling stations.
“All Mujahideen must focus their attention on the failure of this process,” it said, adding, “They must carry out operations against the enemy centres, prevent people from taking part in elections.”
“One day before the elections, they must completely close all roads and highways before the governmental and other transportation vehicles and inform the people,” it added.
More than 90,000 international troops from 42 nations are currently stationed in Afghanistan. Thousands of US, Canadian, British and Afghan forces have been taking part in recently-started operations in the country to provide a safer environment for the Afghan people to cast their votes.
