Kabul, July 30 (DPA) The Taliban insurgent movement demanded Thursday that all Afghan people take up arms against the NATO-led forces in the country instead of going to 'fake polling stations' during the Aug 20 presidential election.

'In order to gain real independence, instead of going to fake polling stations, they (Afghans) must go to jihadi trenches and through resistance and jihad (holy war) they must get their denied rights from the foreign invaders,' the Taliban said in a statement posted on the rebel website.

'The planning of the elections is done by the Americans, funding is by Americans, providing the security is by the Americans. So based on what logic can we call this an Afghan-led process?' the statement said.

The Taliban's announcement of their stance to officially boycott the presidential election, the second direct vote for the president in the history of the country, counters recent assumptions that the militant group might not disrupt the upcoming polls.

After striking a peace deal with some commanders of the Taliban in the northwestern province of Badghis Monday, the Afghan government said that efforts were underway in other parts of the country to agree a ceasefire with other militant groups.

Following a peaceful registration process in southern and eastern regions earlier this year, where the Taliban are most active, Afghan election commission officials have also expressed hopes that the Taliban were not intending to disrupt the election.