Our rule in Afghanistan won’t be violent: Taliban spokesperson

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A Taliban spokesperson told Rudaw on Thursday that their rule in Afghanistan will not be violent, adding that they will treat women as per the Islamic law. 

When asked about the videos circulated on social media, purportedly showing Taliban fighters mistreating people, Zabiullah Mujahid told Rudaw’s Shaho Amin late Thursday that, “when someone is in a fight with the enemy, they will be violent with them.”

“However, we will not be violent with our people. Did you know that we have taken control of 13 states within the country in seven days, and we have established our rule in those 13 states. This means that we are not violent. People want us and they ask us to be with them. Everyone supports us, and we will give them all the rights specified in the Islamic sharia. We are committed to this,” he added. 

Taliban has made new advances in government-held areas recently. 

The Pentagon decided on Thursday to deploy around 3,000 troops to Kabul immediately in order to evacuate the US embassy employees, according to Defense Department spokesman John Kirby.

Mujahid also talked about the discussions between Taliban and Afghan political parties in Doha, claiming that these parties are not united when it comes to making a deal with Taliban. 

“So, we cannot wait for them but take serious steps in order to end war in this country, return security to his country and Afghans.”


Read the full interview below:


What is the Taliban's plan? What will happen to power balance in Afghanistan in the near future?

In the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate. I want to say that the people of Afghanistan have had two goals in the last 20 years: firstly, rescue their country from the American invasion, restore independence and remove all the foreign forces from Afghanistan, and secondly establish an authentic Islamic Afghanistan so that the people of Afghanistan can have stable lives under an Islamic rule. These are the two objectives we have struggled for and we are about to make them come true. The foreign forces have withdrawn from the country, and an Islamic all-inclusive state is about to be established in Afghanistan.

The international community and the West are concerned, saying that Afghanistan will be the center of radical groups. What do you have to say about this? What is your message for the international community?

Our message in this regard is very clear. We will never let Afghanistan soil be used against other countries and become a threat to the world. We want to have friendly relations with the whole world, including the Western and Oriental countries as well as our brothers from Islamic states and the regional and neighboring countries, because coexistence in Afghanistan depends on having friendly diplomatic relations with all countries in the framework of the international laws. 

It is said that the US has handed over Afghanistan to the Taliban. How are your relations with the US?

The US has invaded Afghanistan for 20 years and caused bloodshed in our country. It has also caused uncompensated damage to our country but after 20 years it understood that they have to negotiate with us and reach a conclusion. In 2020, we signed an agreement which clearly stipulates that all foreign forces should leave the country and that Afghanistan should not be a threat to any country, including the US and its allies. We have been committed to the agreement in order to have good relations with the Americans and have contact in economic and diplomatic fields as well as having a mutual understanding. 

You are holding talks and fighting simultaneously. Where have the talks reached? Why is there still fighting?

Yes, talks can still continue when there is fighting because talks are aimed at ending the fight. We tried in the last 18 months to make the talks lead to a conclusion. We have a strong team in Doha so that the talks resume and end successively. Unfortunately, the other side, who are different political parties in Afghanistan and have been aiding the US for 20 years have not been able to have a united position in order to negotiate with us. So, we cannot wait for them but take serious steps in order to end war in this country, return security to this country and for Afghans. 

Some videos have circulated, showing that your forces mistreat people, and when your forces enter some places their people run away from you. Will your treatment be as tough as it used to be or will you soften it? Will women be obliged to be fully covered or they will be given rights? 

No, you may have seen some scenes where we are holding weapons during fights. Of course, when someone is in a fight with the enemy, they will be violent with them. However, we will not be violent with our people. Did you know that we have taken control of 13 states within the country in seven days, and we have established our rule in those 13 states. This means that we are not violent. People want us and they ask us to be with them. Everyone supports us, and we will give them all the rights specified in the Islamic sharia. We are committed to this.