Against popular public fear and opinion, The Taliban, on Tuesday, has vowed to respect women’s rights, forgive those who resisted them and ensure a secure Afghanistan.
Following a lightning and fluid offensive across Afghanistan that saw the insurgents claim cities without a fight, the Taliban have sought to portray themselves as more moderate than when they imposed a brutal rule in the late 1990s. This did not calm the nerves of many Afghans as they, in their thousands raced to the airport on Monday, in a desperate move to flee the country.
Older generations remember the Taliban’s ultraconservative Islamic views, which included severe restrictions on women as well as public stonings and amputations before they were ousted by the U.S-led invasion following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid addressed these concerns head on in his first news conference Tuesday.
Mujahid, who had been a shadowy figure for years, promised the Taliban would honor women’s rights, but within the norms of Islamic law, without being elaborate with details. 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.
0
0
