WEB DESK
Afghanistan’s president has urgd the countrymen to determine its fate without foreign interference as the United States and the Taliban appear to near a peace deal without the Afghan government.
President Ashraf Ghani spoke during Eid-ul-Azha EVEN as US and Taliban negotiators continue their work in Qatar.
He insisted that next month’s presidential election is essential so that Afghanistan’s leader will have a powerful mandate to decide the country’s future after years of war.
Meanwhile, the lead US negotiator has sought a peace deal by September 1. It is expected to agree on the withdrawal of some 20,000 US and NATO troops and secure Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan would not be a base for other extremist groups.