Taliban leader Mullah Omar has dismissed presidential elections, due in Afghanistan next year, as a 'waste of time'.
The Dawn News reports that this poses a major challenge to international efforts striving to ensure a credible poll for peace efforts in Afghanistan.
Participation of the Pashtun ethnic group, Taliban supporters at core, is essential to the success of the election scheduled for April 5 2014, the report added.
The United States and other foreign donors have said that the poll is crucial for the country's future after the planned withdrawl of Nato-led troops next year.
Omar has also clarified that the Taliban believes in reaching an understanding with the Afghans for establishment of an Afghan-inclusive government based on Islamic principles.