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.”
