Take Control Of Afghanistan, Taliban Promise Forgiveness Of Government Troops To Foreign Contractors And Translators

Illustration of a Taliban soldier. (Antara Foto/Reuters/Stringer/pri)

JAKARTA - The Taliban group announced its desire to have peaceful relations with countries around the world, and to respect women's rights within the framework of Islamic law, in its first press conference in Kabul, Tuesday local time.

The Taliban's announcement shows a more humane attitude than their rule over the previous 20 years. Meanwhile, the United States and other countries are continuing to evacuate diplomats, foreign missions and their civilians from Afghanistan.

"We don't want an internal or external enemy," said the Taliban's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, citing Reuters on Tuesday, August 17.

Women will be allowed to work and study and "will be very active in society but within an Islamic framework," he added, he continued.

During their 1996-2001 rule, the Taliban stopped women from working and imposed sentences including stoning in public. Girls are not allowed to go to school and women must wear the full-coverage burqa to go out, only if accompanied by a male relative.

Mujahid said the Taliban would not seek retaliation against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government, granting amnesty to former Afghan government soldiers as well as contractors and translators working for international forces.

"No one will hurt you, no one will knock on your door," he said, adding that there was a 'big difference' between the Taliban now and 20 years ago.

Mujahid said private media can continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan and that the Taliban are committed to media within their cultural framework.

He also said families who tried to flee the country at the airport, should return home and nothing would happen to them.

The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session in Geneva next week to address "serious human rights issues", following the takeover of the Taliban, a UN statement said.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, told Reuters in an interview that the Taliban had assured the UN that they could continue humanitarian work in Afghanistan, which is suffering from drought.

Earlier, the European Union said it would only cooperate with the Afghan government after the Taliban returned to power if they respected basic rights, including the rights of women.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Taliban should allow everyone who wants to leave the country, adding that NATO's goal is to help build a viable state in Afghanistan. He also warned the alliance could strike if the country again became a breeding ground for terrorism.

Separately, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said they agreed to hold a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders this week to discuss a common strategy and approach to Afghanistan.