The Trump administration mulls pressing the Afghan government to suspend the presidential elections as Washington seeks to engage the Taliban in peace talks, it has been reported.
The issue of the suspension of April-2019 elections was raised by the U.S. Special Adviser for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, sources privy of the development have told The Wall Street Journal.
However, the Office of Ambassador Khalilzad has declined ot comment in this regard.
The possibility of such a step, one of several options being considered by U.S. officials, is a sign of the urgency the administration sees in trying to broker a political breakthrough in a conflict that has bedeviled three successive American presidents, the sources have told The Wall Street Journal.
Reacting to the report, a presidential spokesperson, Haroon Chakhansuri said “The Afghan Government is fully committed to hold the 2019 presidential elections as per the Afghan constitution, and the date determined by Independent Election Commission.”
Chakhansuri further added “Continuity in a democratic process is a must and any other proposal than the will of Afghans which is outlined in our constitution is simply not acceptable.”
