Introduction -- An overview of the Taliban's internal alignments -- The Taliban's past record with elections -- Debate about 2014 elections and a peace settlement -- Ideological views about elections and negotiations -- Conclusion.
Summary
The international community and Afghan political leaders alike see the 2014 Afghan national elections as crucial for the continuation of political stability in Afghanistan and for the success of the past decade's statebuilding effort there. A major factor in determining the success or failure of these elections will be how the Taliban approach them, now that it is clear that the insurgent group has not been brought to the edge of defeat by the 2010-11 surge in the south.
