Afghanistan leader rejects foreign interference in country's fate

Kabul: Afghanistan's president is urging the nation to determine its fate without foreign interference as the United States and the Taliban appear to near a peace deal without the Afghan government at the table.

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President Ashraf Ghani spoke during the Muslim holiday Eid-al-Adha and as US and Taliban negotiators continue their work in the Gulf nation of Qatar.

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Ghani insisted on Sunday 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.

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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.