KABUL - The Taliban issued a statement on Monday warning Afghan citizens not to take part in the April presidential and provincial council elections or they could suffer the consequences of militant violence planned to disrupt the process.
"We have given orders to our Mujahideen to use all force at their disposal to disrupt the upcoming sham elections and to target all workers, activists, callers, security apparatus and offices," the Taliban said in a statement.
The statement is the first explicit threat from the Taliban militancy regarding the 2014 elections. Other than a couple attacks on election officials during the fall voter registration process, the assassination of the Kunduz Independent Election Commissions (IEC) chief in September and a botched attempt on Abdullah Abdullah's life in February, the election preparation process has been surprisingly insulated from ongoing violence around the country.
The Taliban's statement seemed more bent on scaring Afghans from voting than anything else. The insurgents said they would not hold themselves responsible for any loss of life that may result from their attacks on election day.
"We once again call on all of our countrymen to keep away from electoral offices, voting booths, rallies and campaigns so that may Allah forbid, their lives are not put in danger," the Taliban statement read. "If anyone persists on participating, they are solely responsible for any losses."
Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoIA) spokesman Sediq Seddiqi in response to the statement reiterated that the Afghan security forces are fully ready to provide security for the upcoming elections.
"We assure the nation that the Afghan Security Forces (ASF) are on alert to maintain the election security," Seddiqi said. "The Taliban's statement is just propaganda."
IEC Spokesman Noor Mohammad Noor derided the Taliban press release and reaffirmed the IEC's commitment to secure, transparent and credible elections.
"People will cast ballots in the elections to choose the next government," Noor said. "Such press releases are part of the enemy's propaganda and will not impact the elections."
Security officials recently submitted a report to President Hamid Karzai that assured over 90 percent of polling centers would be open on election day. Just over 400 of the 6,845 total polling stations nationwide are said to be under serious security threat.
Foreign troops in Afghanistan are scheduled to leave by the end of 2014 with the end of the NATO combat mission, after which the ASF – currently numbering at around 300,000– will take over full security responsibility of the country. According to NATO and Afghan officials, the ASF have already assumed the bulk of leadership on operations throughout the country.
"Everyone is aware that America and her allies are fleeing after having failed in occupying Afghanistan," the Taliban statement read.
Of the roughly 80,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, around 47,000 are Americans. (Tolonews)