Afghan presidential hopefuls campaign amid threats: Report

Afghan presidential candidates continue campaigning amid escalating security threats by the Taliban militant group, Press TV reports.

The Taliban have rejected the April election and stepped up attacks to sabotage the electoral process.

This comes after presidential candidates in Afghanistan began two months of campaigning for the April 5 election.

The presidential hopefuls discuss issues at small rallies ranging from the Taliban to the future of foreign troops in Afghanistan. They also have outlined their working plans after being elected as the country’s new president.

The election comes at a time when the country is grappling with growing wave of violence and militancy.

Militant attacks have already claimed the lives of several campaign workers over the past few weeks across various regions of the war-ravaged country.

All the candidates have been given armored vehicles and security guards.

Eleven candidates are running for the presidential vote in which a successor to President Hamid Karzai will be chosen.

The Afghan presidential election comes as US-led combat troops are expected to withdraw by December 2014 and the Taliban seek a return to government.

The upcoming vote is scheduled to be held months before the expected withdrawal of the US-led foreign forces from the war-ravaged country.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticized the United States, saying Washington and its western allies launched the war on his country for their own interests.

In an interview with The Washington Post on Monday, he said the US invaded Afghanistan for its own security.

The Afghan leader also urged the US to end air raids, saying civilians are being killed in these airstrikes, instead of Taliban militants. Karzai said he will not sign the controversial security pact with Washington and that it is up to his successor to make the decision.