De regering-Karzai heeft eerder álle Afghanen, ook de Talibanaanhangers, opgeroepen om deel te nemen aan de presidentverkiezingen van 20 augustus a.s.  Niet helemaal verrassend is de officiële reactie van de Talibs (d.w.z. van een de zich meest profilerende vleugels daarvan) :

The head of the political commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, esteemed Mullah Abdul Latif Mansur, said the following in a press statement regarding the current activities concerning the elections in Afghanistan: Anyone who reaches power with the presence of the foreign forces should not be expected to bring any change. This is because firstly, whoever comes to power it will be definitely someone who is favored by the foreign invaders. Secondly, it is obvious that as long as the foreign forces are in control, they will have power and will continue to carry on with the crimes they are currently committing in the country. Mansur added: It is the stance of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan that unless the foreign forces leave the country, it will not be deceived into leaving the trenches of jihad by any conspiracy. (www.theunjustmedia.com)

Intussen meldt het Britse weekblad The Economist dat er in Uruzgan forse ruzie is geweest tijdens de kiezersregistratie tussen Talibanaanhangers die niet, en anderen die wél willen gaan stemmen.

In Uruzgan province, the commander of the Afghan Army, General Abdul Hamid, reports that many Taliban have registered to vote, and that there were clashes during registration between Taliban supporting and opposed to the election. The pro-election faction triumphed. NATO hopes that sets a trend.