Taliban Press Conference: "There is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago" [View all]

The Taliban have held a press conference is in media center used by former government officials, taking questions from both male and female journalists. Their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid said

Government

"We are working seriously on forming the government. It will be announced after completion." "We are all going to make sure that we can include all other sides and factions. "After the government is formed we are going to decide what laws will be presented to the nation"


Unity

"We want to make sure Afghanistan is no longer a battlefield of conflict We have pardoned all those who have fought against us. Animosities have come to an end. "

"We don't want anybody [forced] to leave the country," he adds. There is an amnesty.We have pardoned everybody for the benefit of stability or peace in Afghanistan"


Reprisals

"When asked about contractors and translators who have worked with foreign powers, Zabihullah Mujahid says: "Nobody is going to be treated with revenge The youth who have grown up here, we do not want them to leave. They are our assets."

"Nobody is going to knock on their door and ask them who they have been working for. They are going to be safe. Nobody is going to be interrogated or chased."


Terrorism

"Afghanistan's soil is not going to be used against anybody," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says when asked about the risk of the country housing al-Qaeda fighters. We can assure the international community of that."


Press Freedom

I would like to assure the media that we are committed to the media within our cultural frameworks. Private media can continue to be free and independent.

"You in the media should pay attention to [our] shortcomings so we can serve the nation ... But the media should not work against ... the unity of the nation."


Women's Rights

"[We] are committed to the rights of women under the system of [Islamic law]"

"We do not want to have any problems with the international community"

"We have the right to act according to our religious principles. Other countries have different approaches, rules and regulations... the Afghans have the right to have their own rules and regulations in accordance with our values."

'Women will be allowed to work and study'. "They are going to be working shoulder to shoulder with us. We would like to assure the international community that there will be no discrimination."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-58219963