Small Wars Journal

Taliban Denies Agreement Reached With US On Elections, Demands “An Islamic Government”

Tue, 11/20/2018 - 10:26am

Taliban Denies Agreement Reached With US On Elections, Demands “An Islamic Government” by Bill Roggio – Long War Journal

The Taliban confirmed that it met with a high-level delegation of US officials in Qatar, and quashed news reports that the group wanted the Afghan government to postpone the April 2019 presidential elections and establish an interim government. Yet again, the Taliban insisted that “an Islamic government,” a not-so-vague reference to its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, rule the country.

The meeting, which took place from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, was confirmed in an official statement at Voice of Jihad, the organization’s official website. The statement was signed by Zabihullah Mujahid, the “Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”

The meeting was reported in Western news services. According to The Associate Press, “the Taliban pressed for a postponement of next year’s presidential elections and the establishment of an interim government under a neutral leadership.”…

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