The Taliban on Tuesday ordered insurgents to do everything they could to block the presidential election slated for September 28. In a statement, the group has also urged people to stay away from campaign rallies because they would be targeted. Although the Taliban’s opposition to election is not something new, the group’s inflexible position even after eight rounds of marathon talks with the United States is worrying. It seems that the opposition to Afghan election is in fact an American proposition, but Americans do not put it for fear of coming under fire from Afghan people and government. Washington is playing a double game. In its public statements, it is supporting election as a means of peaceful transition of power, but on the other hand, it appears to have reached an agreement with the Taliban on the formation of an interim government. Washington is apparently now putting its words into the Taliban’s mouth.
Peace talks between Americans and the Taliban have reached a crucial stage, and even both sides are expected to sign a peace deal in the coming days. If Americans have agreed with the Taliban on postponement of election or formation of a transitional government, they should declare that such an agreement has been reached, and therefore, there is no possibility the presidential election will be held. As a close ally, it is not appropriate for the US to encourage Afghan government to hold election on the one hand, and tell the Taliban on the other hand to disrupt the national process by attacking election offices and campaign gatherings. Attacks on election rallies will be a huge tragedy because an overwhelming majority of the victims will be poor Afghan people who might have joined the presidential candidates to earn subsistence for their families rather than holding their political ideology.
The presidential election campaigning is ongoing as peace talks have entered a decisive moment. In such a high-risk environment, only the Taliban who have fought Afghan government and foreign troops for almost last two decades will benefit from the disruption of each other’s efforts by Americans and Afghan government. The United States should share all details not only with Afghan government but also all people, and eschew a deal which will result in Afghanistan coming under Pakistan’s control by bringing the Taliban back to power. Afghans want peace, but not at the cost of their foreign policy being controlled by Pakistan.
