Kabul: At maiden press meet, rebels talk of women’s rights

Kabul, August 17

A Taliban spokesman today promised that the insurgents who overran Afghanistan in recent days would respect women’s rights and not exact revenge, seeking to calm a wary population and skeptical world powers.

In his first news conference, Zabihullah Mujahid, who had been a shadowy figure for years, doubled down on the Taliban’s efforts to convince the world that it has changed from the group that imposed a brutal rule on the country in the 1990s. Mujahid promised the Taliban would honor women’s rights, but within the norms of Islamic law. He said the group wanted private media to “remain independent”, but stressed journalists “should not work against national values”.

He said the insurgents would secure Afghanistan, but seek no revenge against those who worked with the former government or with foreign governments or forces. “We assure you that nobody will go to their doors to ask why they helped,” he said. Earlier, Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission, had promised amnesty and encouraged women to join the government. But many Afghans remain skeptical. — AP