The Taliban have directed Afghans to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections and demanded a complete withdrawal of foreign forces as the only solution to end the 17-year-old war as they ramped up attacks in strategic provinces.
The statement from the hardline Islamic militant group coincided with the visit of top US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been appointed to lead peace efforts with the Taliban.
Khalilzad met President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Monday to discuss ways to hold Afghan-led peace talks with the Taliban, whose 1996-2001 rule was ended by US-led troops.
"Peace is a holy process, and the US government and people are united with the Afghan government and people in this process," Khalilzad was quoted by Ghani's office in a statement as saying.
Khalilzad, an Afghan-born former US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, is scheduled to visit Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week as he seeks to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
But the Taliban, who are fighting to expel foreign forces, topple the government and restore their version of hardline Islamic law, have repeatedly rejected offers to hold peace talks or support the polls.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's main spokesman, said the US was using the elections for the sole purpose of legitimising their presence.
With less than two weeks to go before the elections, the Taliban and Islamic State have stepped up attacks across the country.
On Monday a ministry of defence statement said Afghan forces had killed more than 120 Taliban fighters and other militants during 20 operations, including 17 air strikes in various parts of the country.
More than 30 Taliban fighters were wounded in air strikes conducted in Ghazni, Kandahar, Farah and Faryab provinces.
Western diplomats have said the fighting raises questions about the viability of the US strategy to end the war.
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