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Taliban’s ‘Peaceful’ Promises At First Media Briefing

The Taliban have sought to address a range of issues from women’s safety and freedom of media in Afghanistan, following global criticism and worries over their oppressive law.

Taliban spokesman has pledged to secure Afghanistan after the insurgents took over the country following a blitz that lasted over a week. Zabihullah Mujahid made the comment on Tuesday at his first news conference.

For years, he has been issuing statements on behalf of the militants. He said the insurgents sought no revenge and that everyone is forgiven.

Many Afghans fear that the Taliban will return the country to the extreme brutal rule they used when last in charge. Foreign officials have also said they will wait to see if the insurgents keep their promises.

“The situation in Kabul city will soon be back to normal,” was their big statement as fear was increasing in the war-torn country.

“We don’t want to repeat any conflict, any war again, and we want to do away with the factors for conflict,” he said through a translator. “Animosities have come to an end, and we would like to live peacefully. We don’t want any internal enemies and any external enemies.”

He said a new government would be formalised as soon as the unstable conditions in Kabul permitted.

Regarding the violence in the country, they said, “Damage to people and families occurred during the war was accidental and not intentional. It occurred in an uncontrolled situation. If it happened, it is unfortunate.”

The militants said they have ‘pardoned’ everyone, even the government officials who were against them, “No one will go to anyone’s house and people should be sure that the Taliban have pardoned everyone, whether they were in the regime or those who worked with American forces. No one will search their house.”

Also read: Afghanistan: ‘Now is the time to stand as one’, UN chief tells Security Council

They said that they would want women to work in their new government, however they should work within the framework of Islam. “Right of women will be under the Shariya law. There will be no discrimination against women but they have to live under the framework of Sharia law. We need women in various fields [in the new government]. We will allow them to work within the framework of Islam,” the statement said.

The statement also warned the media not to broadcast anything that contradict Islamic values, “The media should be neutral, Islamic values should be taken into consideration and the media should broadcast on the basis of national values. We do not allow broadcasts against national interests and values. No broadcast should contradict Islamic values, they should be impartial, no one should broadcast anything that goes against our national interests.”

They statement also shed light on the security of foreign embassies in Afghanistan. “Securities of embassies are very crucial for us. We will not allow anyone to harm your securities (Embassies). Many Afghans have expressed fear that the Taliban will return the country the brutal rule they used when last in charge, and foreign officials have said they will wait to see if the insurgents make good on their promises,” it said.

Earlier in the day, a top Taliban official met with a Qatari official before reportedly leaving the country for Afghanistan. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday.

 

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