By KATHY GANNON, Related Press
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers are dedicated in precept to schooling and jobs for women and girls, a marked departure from their earlier time in energy, and search the world’s “mercy and compassion” to assist tens of millions of Afghans in determined want, a prime Taliban chief mentioned in a uncommon interview.
Afghan International Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi additionally informed The Related Press that the Taliban authorities desires good relations with all nations and has no subject with america. He urged Washington and different nations to launch upward of $10 billion in funds that had been frozen when the Taliban took energy Aug. 15, following a speedy army sweep throughout Afghanistan and the sudden, secret flight of U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani.
“Sanctions towards Afghanistan would … not have any profit,” Muttaqi mentioned Sunday, talking in his native Pashto through the interview within the sprawling pale brick International Ministry constructing within the coronary heart of the Afghan capital of Kabul.
“Making Afghanistan unstable or having a weak Afghan authorities is just not within the curiosity of anybody,” mentioned Muttaqi, whose aides embody staff of the earlier authorities in addition to these recruited from the ranks of the Taliban.
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Muttaqi acknowledged the world’s outrage on the Taliban-imposed limitations on women’ schooling and on ladies within the work power. In lots of components of Afghanistan, feminine highschool college students between the grades of seven and 12 haven’t been permitted to go to highschool for the reason that Taliban took over, and plenty of feminine civil servants have been informed to remain house. Taliban officers have mentioned they want time to create gender-segregated preparations in colleges and work locations that meet their extreme interpretation of Islam.
Once they first dominated from 1996-2001, the Taliban shocked the world by barring women and girls from colleges and jobs, banning most leisure and sports activities and sometimes finishing up executions in entrance of huge crowds in sports activities stadiums.
However Muttaqi mentioned the Taliban have modified since they final dominated.
“We’ve have made progress in administration and in politics … in interplay with the nation and the world. With every passing day we are going to acquire extra expertise and make extra progress,” he mentioned.
Muttaqi mentioned that below the brand new Taliban authorities, women are going to highschool by to Grade 12 in 10 of the nation’s 34 provinces, non-public colleges and universities are working unhindered and 100% of girls who had beforehand labored within the well being sector are again on the job. “This exhibits that we’re dedicated in precept to ladies participation,” he mentioned.
He claimed that the Taliban haven’t focused their opponents, as a substitute having introduced a normal amnesty and offering some safety. Leaders of the earlier authorities stay with out menace in Kabul, he mentioned, although the bulk have fled.
Final month, the worldwide group Human Rights Watch printed a report saying the Taliban summarily killed or forcibly disappeared greater than 100 former police and intelligence officers in 4 provinces. Nevertheless, there have been no stories of large-scale retribution.
Muttaqi charged the Afghan authorities that took energy after the usled coalition ousted the Taliban regime in 2001 carried out widespread revenge assaults towards the Taliban. Tons of disappeared or had been killed, inflicting 1000’s to flee to the mountains, he mentioned. The Taliban had been ousted for harboring al Qaida and Osama bin Laden who masterminded the 9/11 terrorist assaults within the U.S.
Muttaqi insisted poverty and the dream of a greater life — not concern — drove 1000’s of Afghans to hurry the Kabul airport in mid-August in hopes of attending to America. The crush of individuals had generated searing photos of males clinging to a departing American C-17 plane, whereas others fell to the bottom because the wheels retracted.
He mentioned the Taliban have made errors of their first months in energy and that “we are going to work for extra reforms which might profit the nation.” He didn’t elaborate on the errors or potential reforms.
Muttaqi pushed again towards feedback by U.S. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie who informed the AP final week that the al-Qaida extremist group has grown barely inside Afghanistan since U.S. forces left in late August. McKenzie is Washington’s prime army commander within the Center East.
In a February 2020 deal that spelled out the phrases of a U.S. troop withdrawal, the Taliban had promised to battle terrorism and deny terrorist teams a protected haven.
Muttaqi mentioned Sunday that the Taliban have stored that promise, together with a pledge to not assault U.S. and NATO forces through the last section of the withdrawal which resulted in late August.
“Sadly, there are (all the time) allegation towards the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan , however there is no such thing as a proof,” mentioned Muttaqi. “If McKenzie has any proof, he ought to present it. With confidence I can say that it is a baseless allegation.”
In the meantime, Islamic State militants have stepped up assaults on Taliban patrols and spiritual minorities prior to now 4 months. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan has focused Shiite mosques within the provincial capitals of Kunduz and Kandahar, and carried out frequent assaults on Taliban automobiles.
Muttaqi nevertheless mentioned the Taliban have gained the higher hand in current weeks, saying there had not been a significant assault within the final month. Washington’s means to trace IS actions in Afghanistan has been handicapped for the reason that troop withdrawal.
Muttaqi mentioned he doesn’t envision cooperating with the U.S. within the battle towards the Islamic State.
Nevertheless, he did categorical hope that with time, “America will slowly, slowly change its coverage towards Afghanistan” because it sees proof {that a} Taliban-ruled nation in a position to stand by itself is a profit to America.
“My final level is to America, to the American nation: You’re a nice and large nation and it’s essential to have sufficient endurance and have an enormous coronary heart to dare to make insurance policies on Afghanistan based mostly on worldwide guidelines and relegation, and to finish the variations and make the gap between us shorter and select good relations with Afghanistan.”
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