Taliban press conference in Kabul:

No one has heard from the Taliban, the group that now rules the country, since the Taliban captured Kabul on Sunday. The Afghan civilian population lives in a state of insecurity, while the international community condemns the way the Afghan authorities collapsed under pressure from the insurgent group.

Zabihullah Mujahid spoke Tuesday afternoon to Shamil journalists from the old media building of the authorities in the capital.

Afghanistan has been liberated. The speaker began Mujahid who declared Afghanistan “an Islamic state under Islamic law” We will not seek revenge.

Mujahid adds: All are forgiven.

The people of Kabul are asked not to interfere with the ongoing transfer of power, to ensure that this happens as quickly and smoothly as possible.

– Now our main priority is maintaining law and order in Kabul. Since we captured Kabul, we have had some problems with law and order. Mujahid says some criminals are trying to create problems.

He also emphasized that Afghanistan would not be used to harbor terrorist organizations or plan future attacks.

I talked about women’s rights

Earlier Tuesday, the Taliban promised “amnesty” to all residents of Afghanistan, and urged Afghan women to join the new government. Perhaps this is an attempt to calm a very nervous population, a day after thousands of Afghans stormed the airport in a desperate attempt to escape.

Women’s rights in particular have been a major issue of late, and many fear that the rights that have been built up over the past twenty years will be removed once the Taliban establishes their new government.

Women’s rights are important. Women have all the rights that Islam grants them. Women can work, go to school and work in schools. Mujahid says we assure the world that we will not oppress women.

Then a Western journalist asks Mujahid if he can guarantee the protection of women’s rights.

– You have already said that it will allow women to work in line with the Qur’an. Mujahid answers: We respect women, they will get all the rights that Islam allows them.

He also had to answer what would happen to Afghans who had worked with the United States and other coalition forces over the past 20 years:

We assure that we will ensure the safety of everyone who has worked with the United States and allied forces, whether as a translator or other assignments. Because they are skilled people, we don’t want them to leave the country, but rather to stay here and help rebuild the country.

The boss has fallen

At the same time as the press conference, Agence France-Presse reported that Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar has arrived in Kabul. Baradar heads the Taliban’s political department and is now in the capital with a larger delegation from the insurgent group. Baradar is expected to lead the Islamic government and become the country’s next president, although Mujahid did not confirm this during the press conference:

– We are still working on forming the government, and we hope it will be on the target soon.