<span style="color: #222222;">Afghanistan's president is urging the nation to determine its fate without foreign interference as the United States and the Taliban appear to near a peace deal without the Afghan government.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' President Ashraf Ghani spoke during Eid-ul-Azha, and as US and Taliban negotiators continue their work in Qatar. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He insisted that next month's presidential election is essential so that Afghanistan's leader will have a powerful mandate to decide the country's future after years of war.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Meanwhile, the lead US negotiator has sought a peace deal by September 1. It is expected to agree on the withdrawal of some 20,000 US and NATO troops and secure Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan would not be a base for other extremist groups.</span><br />'' <br />''