Despite reports of a truce between the Taliban and the Afghan government to allow voting in this week's upcoming election, the Taliban seem to have no intention of easing up on threats or violence. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack near the NATO headquarters in Kabul over the weekend that killed at least seven and wounded dozens more.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that the Taliban's reach and influence in the Pashtun areas of Afghanistan may seriously impact President Hamid Karzai's ability to get votes--since the Taliban are still threatening to amputate the fingers of anyone caught with ink on them. That, combined with ongoing dissatisfaction with Karzai's performance, may ultimately play in Karzai's closest rival Abdullah Abdullah's favor--but it also might completely undermine the legitimacy of the election by ensuring low turnout.
-- A. Serwer
