The Taliban delegation led by the deputy head of the Taliban delegation, Abdul Ghani Baradal, left the hotel after attending the Afghanistan Peace Conference. Delegations from Russia, China, the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Qatar attended as honorary guests This meeting. March 19, 2021, Moscow, Russia. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
- The Taliban completed the takeover of Afghanistan’s lighting and walked into the capital Kabul last Sunday.
- The Taliban ruled with an iron fist from 1996 to 2001, and were then overthrown by US-led forces to shelter al-Qaeda militants behind the September 11 attacks.
- The Taliban plans to prepare a new model of governance in Afghanistan in the coming weeks.
An Islamic organization official told Reuters on Saturday that Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar has arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul for talks with radical commanders, former government leaders and religious scholars.
A NATO official said that since the Taliban insurgents entered Kabul Airport a week ago, about 12,000 foreigners and Afghans working for embassies and international aid organizations have been evacuated from Kabul Airport.
The NATO official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters: “The evacuation process is slow because it is risky and because we do not want any form of conflict with Taliban members or civilians outside the airport.”
We don’t want to start a blame game on the evacuation plan.
The Taliban completed the takeover of the country’s lighting and walked into the capital Kabul last Sunday without shooting.
Since then, individual Afghans and international aid and advocacy groups have reported that they have retaliated severely for the protests and rounded up those who had held government positions, criticized the Taliban, or worked with Americans.
“We have heard of some atrocities and crimes against civilians,” said the Taliban official, who asked not to be named.
“If the Taliban (members) are doing these law and order issues, they will be investigated,” he said. “We can understand panic, stress and anxiety. People think we will not be responsible for it, but it is not the case.”
Read also | Caught by the Taliban: Afghan refugees and countries that refuse to aid Afghan refugees
Although the organization has been trying to show a more moderate face since it took over, the Taliban ruled with an iron fist from 1996 to 2001, and was later overthrown by US-led forces behind the September 11 attacks for sheltering al-Qaeda militants.
In recent days, when gunmen went from house to house, former officials told the tragic story of avoiding the Taliban. A family of 16 described that they ran to the bathroom, turned off the lights, and the children covered their mouths, fearing their lives.
The Taliban official said that the organization plans to prepare a new Afghan governance model in the next few weeks, with different teams to solve internal security and financial issues.
“Experts from the previous government will be introduced into crisis management,” he said.
The official added that the new governance structure will not be democracy as defined by the West, but “it will protect everyone’s rights.”
The official said that during his visit to Kabul, Baradar will meet with radical commanders, former government leaders and policymakers, and religious scholars.
Baradal, the head of the Taliban’s political office, is a member of the organization’s negotiating team in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
According to reports, Baradar is one of the most trusted commanders of the former Taliban leader Omar Mullah. He was captured by security forces in Karachi, Pakistan in 2010, and was released in 2018.
Airport chaos
The chaos at Kabul’s airport is surrounded by thousands of people eager to flee the country, which is not the responsibility of the Taliban, officials of the militant group said. “The West could have had a better evacuation plan.”
Taliban members armed with guns around the airport urged those without travel documents to return home. NATO and Taliban officials said at least 12 people have been killed in the airport and surrounding areas since Sunday.
As Western countries tried to accelerate their withdrawal amid reports of chaos and Taliban violence, President Joe Biden faced criticism of the U.S. withdrawal plan and the rapid takeover of Islamic radicals.
Biden told reporters after speaking at the White House on Friday: “I have not seen allies questioning our credibility.” “In fact, on the contrary…we are moving quickly, we are moving, Committed to what we said we would do.”
He insisted on evacuation of every American who wanted to evacuate.
Read also | Afghan captives: NATO tells the Taliban that we will not allow terrorists to threaten us
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the situation outside the Kabul airport “very terrifying and difficult” because several member states requested that the evacuation continue after the United States’ August 31 deadline.
Although fellow Democrats and opposition Republicans have called for the presence of troops in Afghanistan internationally and domestically, as long as it is necessary to get every American home, Biden has not given up the deadline.
Biden said that he could not predict the final outcome of Afghanistan, where the United States and allies waged a 20-year war.
However, he promised to cooperate with other countries and set “strict conditions” for any cooperation or recognition with the Taliban based on the Taliban’s human rights record.
“They want to gain some legitimacy and they will have to figure out how they will keep that country,” he said.
“And there will be some harsh conditions. The tough conditions we will adopt will depend on… how they treat women and girls, how they treat their citizens.”
We want to hear your opinion on the news. Subscribe to news 24 Be part of the dialogue in the comments section of this article.
