KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — President Donald Trump's sudden halt to U.S.-Taliban talks looks like a gift to Afghanistan's president, clearing the way for a key election in less than three weeks' time.

But after many had believed the vote would be pushed aside by a U.S.-Taliban deal to end America's longest war, a country that stumbled badly through its past two elections is in for a new kind of uncertainty — and even more violence.

The Taliban, who control or hold sway over roughly half the country, have told Afghans to boycott the vote and warned that rallies and polling stations would be targets. The insurgent group is more distrustful than ever and has vowed to keep fighting.

However, the Afghan people, essentially shut out of the talks, want a say in their fate.