Polls to mount social pressure on Taliban: Nicholson

KABUL commander has welcomed the Independent Election Commission’s announcement of the long-delayed parliamentary elections.  

The poll panel says Wolesi Jirga and district council elections will be held on October 20, 2018 three years behind schedule.

In a statement, the Resolute Support commander said: “We commend the commission on the announcement of this year’s elections.  

Gen. John Nicholson added: “The elections represent part of three pressures that will bring the Taliban to reconciliation.

In addition to military and the diplomatic pressures, he believed, the elections applied social pressure by deepening the legitimacy of the Afghan government and offering a way for the Taliban to join the political process.

“The elections are entirely Afghan-led, and the RS mission will continue to provide effective train, advise and assist support to ANDSF so that they can provide greater security,” the commander said.

Gen. Nicholson said: “We respect Afghan political processes, Afghan political evolution, Afghan politicians, and the electoral choices of the Afghan people.”

pr/mud

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