The Taliban held their first official news conference in Kabul on Tuesday, promising to respect the rights of women, seek good relations with other countries, and not to seek retribution on former members of the Afghan military.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that they will reach a settlement through which an Islamic government will be established in the country. He also said that the rights of women will be honoured as per Islamic law. “Women can work in the health sector and other sectors where they are needed…there will be no discrimination against them,” Mujahid said.
The Taliban’s statement that they would protect women’s rights comes after the Taliban’s earlier rule saw women’s lives and rights severely restricted. Many Afghans have expressed fear that the Taliban will return to the country the brutal rule they used when last in charge.
Mujahid promised the Taliban would honour women’s rights, but within the norms of Islamic law. He said the group wanted private media to “remain independent,” but stressed journalists “should not work against national values.” And he promised the insurgents would secure Afghanistan — but seek no revenge against those who worked with the former government or with foreign governments or forces. “We assure you that nobody will go to their doors to ask why they helped,” he said.
Earlier, Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission, promised amnesty and encouraged women to join the government.
But many Afghans remain skeptical. Kabul remained quiet for another day as the Taliban patrolled its streets and many residents stayed home, remaining fearful after the insurgents’ takeover saw prisons emptied and armories looted.
The Taliban spokesperson said they wished for peaceful relations with other countries, adding they don’t want any “internal or external enemies”.
“We want to assure our neighbouring countries that our land will not be misused against them. International community should also recognise us”.
Calling the Ghani-led government “incompetent”, the Taliban spokesperson said that their plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing rest of the areas.
“We want to assure the security of international embassies and organisations in Kabul. Our plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing rest of the areas but, unfortunately, the previous government was incompetent. They could not provide security. We will provide security to all foreign organisations now. We don’t seek any enemies. inside or outside Afghanistan,” Zabihullah Mujahid said.
Germany halted development aid to Afghanistan over the Taliban takeover. Such aid is a crucial source of funding for the country — and the Taliban’s efforts to project a milder version of themselves may be aimed at ensuring that money continues to flow.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Vice President claimed that after President Ashraf Ghani fled in the face of the Taliban sweep into Kabul over the weekend and with his whereabouts unknown, the vice president is the country’s ‘legitimate’ caretaker president.