- Zabihullah Mujahid promises Taliban will respect the rights of women, seek good relations with other countries and not extract retribution on former members of the Afghan military and police.
- Spokesman also says media will be free and independent to “critique” the Taliban, but must operate under Islamic rules.
- Pledges a narcotics-free Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said the group does not harbour any kind of hostility with anyone, will support women’s rights and a free media under Islamic law, in his first press conference since the insurgent group took over Kabul.
“We want to do away with the factors for conflict. Therefore, the Islamic Emirate does not have any kind of any kind of hostility or animosity towards anybody,” he said, with an interpreter translating his speech in English. He added that all animosity “has come to an end”.
“We would like to live peacefully. We do not want any internal enemies or external enemies,” he said.
The Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government, the spokesman said, saying the movement was granting an amnesty for former Afghan government soldiers as well as contractors and translators who worked for international forces.
“War has ended […] (the leader) has pardoned everyone,” he said.
Mujahid noted that Afghanistan is at a historic stage where the country’s men and women are looking to the Taliban with regard to their future.
“I would like to assure [them] that after consultations that will be completed very soon, we will be witnessing the formation of a strong, Islamic, and inclusive government, InshaAllah.”
‘Taliban entered Kabul after incompetent govt failed to ensure security’
The spokesman claimed that when the Taliban forces entered the Afghan capital, Kabul, “there were no casualties”, terming it a “great development”.
He said there were some rioters wanting to “abuse the situation”.
“We realised that that problem was going on […] but we would like to assure the residents of Kabul of their full security, of protection of their dignity and security and safety. Security has been ensured. God-willing, day by day there will be more security,” he said.
Mujahid said that the security of embassies is of “crucial importance” to the Taliban and wants to assure other countries of that those areas will have “complete security”.
“Your representatives, your embassies, your missions, international organisations, aid agencies, we assure you we will not allow anybody to do anything against you. Your security is ensured. Our forces are there round-the-clock to ensure your security,” he said.
He said that the Taliban “do not wish to see any kind of chaos” in Kabul.
“Our plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing all other provinces,” the spokesman claimed, adding that a “smooth transition” of power was what the group had sought to avoid “trouble, harm and damages”.
