Taliban’s new manifesto

After seizing power in the Country, the representatives of the Taliban movement held their first ever press conference in Kabul on Tuesday. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the movement, talked to the local and western journalists about the future discourse of the Taliban movement after grabbing power in the country. Zabihullah assured the reporters that the Taliban were not going to take revenge on anyone and turn the country’s territory into a springboard for threats to neighbors. He said that Politicians are busy in consultations to conceive a mutually agreed political system that meet the aspirations of the Afghan people. According to Zabihullah, consultations are primarily being held with the head of the Supreme Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah. Zabihullah said that Taliban will grant the previously announced amnesty to the officials of the former government and will not pursue those Afghans, who are now trying to leave the country through the Kabul airport, if they return home. Taliban Spokesman assured the world, especially the United States, that Afghan territory will not be used against others. He vowed to fight against drug trafficking, ensure protection of foreigners, diplomats, NGOs officials, Journalists, and others. According to Zabihullah, peaceful introduction of Islamic laws is their right, however the new government would ascertain the details and methodologies for it. He noted that women will live under Sharia law.
The first media interaction of Taliban Spokesman covered most of the areas of concern of the international community and Afghans about the Taliban’s rule in the country, their dealing with friends and foes, kind of the government and future strategy regarding the human and women rights in the country. Certainly, there is a change in the current and previous discourse of the Taliban movement. Taliban had learnt a lot from their previous experience of governance in the Country and during the war with the US over the last two decades. Apparently, a revolution has occurred within the ranks and files of Taliban, which is evident from their working during the last few days. Taliban has announced complete amnesty to all their rivals, government officials and for those Afghans who worked as interpreters with the US and NATO forces during the war. There is a lot of fear and apprehension among the Afghans regarding the future rule of Taliban in the country and it is a natural phenomenon, which will reduce with the passage of time. The situation is improving gradually after the recent statements of a Taliban spokesman. Human and women rights in the country are the most sensitive and important issue for the Taliban and the rest of the world. If the Taliban leave this topic untouched and continue with the current state of affairs it will help them a lot in achieving their credibility and status at international level. Realistically, Afghan society is greatly influenced by the Islamic teaching and Afghan traditions, and majority of women and girls observe burka or use dopata, however if a moderate section of society or monitories have their own way of living, Islam do not enforce its values on them. There is a genuine need for empowerment of women in the country because decades long war has deprived millions of women from their husbands, sons and brothers who were the sources of livelihood for them. There are a lot of hopes and fears from the new Taliban regime in Afghanistan, however the Taliban’s action would decide the success and reliability of their regime in coming days.