Taliban spokesman: Panjshir falls, Govt announcement soon

He shared that regional countries like Pakistan, Iran, China and Russia would be invited to the interim government ceremony in Kabul.

“Do not trust foreigners any more”

“It is our duty to build our country and not the others”

Zabihullah Mujahid addressed the media today for sharing updates on what the Taliban has achieved in Panjshir and its plans ahead. He shared that regional countries like Pakistan, Iran, China and Russia would be invited to the interim government ceremony in Kabul.

Read More: UN to aid Taliban led Afghanistan

 

Taliban ask former Afghan forces to integrate with the new regime

The Taliban called on former members of the Afghan forces to integrate with the new hardline rulers.

“The Afghan forces who were trained in the past 20 years will be asked to rejoin the security departments alongside Taliban members,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference in the capital Kabul.

The spokesman added that any insurgency against their rule would be “hit hard”, after earlier saying they had captured the Panjshir Valley — the last pocket of resistance.

“The Islamic Emirate is very sensitive about insurgencies. Anyone who tries to start an insurgency will be hit hard. We will not allow another,” Mujahid said.

Three weeks after seizing power but with no government so far announced, the spokesman said an “interim” system would first be announced to allow for changes.

“Final decisions have been taken, we are now working on the technical issues,” he said.

“We will announce the new government as soon as the technical issues are resolved.”

The problem with the airport

The security situation is still an issue. So far domestic flights in Kabul have resumed, internationally only humanitarian aid has been able to enter. Mujahid urged skilled and trained personnel to help restart operations at the airport for transitioning into normalcy. He thanked Qatar’s support in the rebuilding of Kabul airport and acknowledged UN support. He said this signals to Afghanistan that the international community is willing to help us. he also emphasised that the people have the right to leave if they wish but for that, they should wait for the government to set up and go through a legal passage once flights are functional.

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“Women’s voice will be heard”

The Taliban spokesperson said that as soon as a government will be announced, Women will be able to voice their concerns and receive the results they require. Regarding the issues women faced at a recent protest, Mujahid admitted that soldiers require thorough training in dealing with such instances to avoid them in the future.

They have promised a government that represents Afghanistan’s complex ethnic makeup — though women are unlikely to be included at the top levels.

Women’s freedoms in Afghanistan were sharply curtailed under the Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule.

This time, women will be allowed to attend university as long as classes are segregated by sex or at least divided by a curtain, the Taliban’s education authority said in a lengthy document issued on Sunday.

 

But female students must also wear an abaya (robe) and niqab (face-veil), as opposed to the even more conservative burqa mandatory under the previous Taliban regime.

As the Taliban come to grips with their transition from insurgency to government they are facing a host of challenges, including humanitarian needs for which international assistance is critical.

Read More: US might recognise Taliban!

Iran ‘strongly’ condemns Taliban offensive on Panjshir Valley

Iran strongly” condemned the Taliban’s military offensive against holdout fighters in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, as the Islamist group claimed it had taken control of the area.

“The news coming from Panjshir is truly worrying. The assault is strongly condemned,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters.

Read More: Panjshir completely conquered : Taliban spokesperson

Via AFP with inputs from GVS