In a statement issued today, the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan urged Afghans to stay away from the August 20 elections, and threatened to block roads in an attempt to disrupt the polling stations.

The group said the election was part of the failed US strategy in the nation, and was “paid for and secured by foreigners.” It also urged local Taliban to do everything they could to prevent people from voting.

The legitimacy of the vote is already in serious question as the government acknowledges that hundreds of polling stations in Pashtun-heavy portions of the country will probably never open. Spokesmen say this could amount to as many as 10 percent of the 7,000 polling centers being set up across the nation.

Though these polls will be kept closed over fears of violence in Taliban-heavy portions of the nation, barring people in those areas from voting is likely to further disenfranchise civilians in those regions, many of whom are already opposed to the government.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• Homegrown US 'Terror Plots' Drop, But Nation Still 'On Edge' - February 9th, 2012
• Amputations Soared Among US Troops in 2011 - February 9th, 2012
• US Still Can't Find Missing Libyan Missiles - February 9th, 2012
• Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: Let Us Form Government - February 9th, 2012
• As Reports of Violence Grow in Syria, So Do Western Calls for Intervention - February 9th, 2012