At their first news conference in Kabul since taking power, the Taliban sought to give assurances on women's rights, the safety of Afghan workers, and media freedom.
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The Taliban on Tuesday sought to reassure a fearful Afghan population and a sceptical international community over human rights.
Speaking at their first news conference since sweeping to power, the militant group made declarations on women's rights, the safety of Afghan workers, and media freedom.
Women won't be 'victims'
Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission, indicated on Tuesday that women should also return to work. Under the Taliban's previous leadership, women were not allowed to study or work and had to wear burqas.
"The Islamic Emirate doesn't want women to be victims," Samangani said, using the militants' term for Afghanistan. “They should be in government structure according to Shariah law."
He added: "The structure of government is not fully clear, but based on experience, there should be a fully Islamic leadership and all sides should join."
Shortly before midnight local time on Monday, Mohammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office, shared a video that appeared to show Taliban members speaking to staff at a hospital, including women. He said "everyone" would be brought back to work.
In other developments, a senior White House adviser says the Taliban have agreed to allow "safe passage" out of Afghanistan for civilians hoping to join a US-led airlift out of Kabul, according to the White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Pentagon officials said dialogue with Taliban commanders was in progress over evacuations, as thousands await flights out of the country, the day after chaotic scenes at Kabul airport.
It comes as senior Taliban leaders have returned to Afghanistan from Qatar. Meanwhile, the streets of Kabul have remained quiet -- but many foreign nationals and Afghan workers are still waiting to be evacuated.
Here is a summary of key developments -- see our live blog below for the latest updates.
The Taliban have agreed to allow “safe passage” from Afghanistan for civilians hoping to join a US-directed airlift from Kabul, President Joe Biden's national security adviser said. Thousands are waiting for evacuation from the airport, which is under US military control.
Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, says the bloc will have to speak to the Taliban as it has "won the war", in order to avoid a "humanitarian and migratory disaster". He denied that this amounts to recognition of the Islamist group.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid Mujahid told the news conference the militant group would honour women’s rights, but within the norms of Islamic law.
Mujahid also said the Taliban wanted private media to “remain independent,” but stressed journalists “should not work against national values.”
The Taliban insists it will build an "inclusive Islamic government", declaring a "general amnesty" for Afghan citizens, urging them to return to work.
Senior Taliban leaders including Amir Khan Muttaqi -- a minister when the Taliban ruled in the 1990s -- and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar -- co-founder and no2 -- have returned to Afghanistan from Qatar.
In a lone show of restistance, Amrullah Saleh, vice president in the ousted government, has declared himself caretaker president and called on his countrymen to join his movement in the northeast.
The Torkham crossing with Pakistan has reopened, allowing scores of trucks carrying commercial goods into Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has blamed the Taliban's sweeping resurgence on a "failure of leadership" by Afghan military and political heads.
Germany has confirmed it has stopped all state-run development aid to Afghanistan until further notice. EU member states' foreign ministers have been holding a crisis meeting.
Latest updates:
The militant group has sought to project calm after its lightning-fast advance through the country and capture of Kabul on Sunday. But many residents in the capital are still staying at home in fear for their lives.
Older generations remember the Taliban's ultraconservative Islamic views and medieval punishments including stonings, public flogging and executions, before the U.S-led invasion that followed the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks ended the militant group's reign.
Among the women who returned to work on Tuesday were female anchors at the 24-hour Tolo News channel.
Evacuations resume
Stefano Pontecorvo, NATO's senior civilian representative to Afghanistan, posted a video of Kabul airport on Tuesday showing an empty tarmac, in stark contrast to the chaotic scenes observed the day before.
"Runway in HKIA Kabul International airport is open. I see airplanes landing and taking off, Pontecorvo wrote on Twitter. "Situation is under control," he added.
Thousands of Afghans had crowded the tarmac on Monday. Distressing footage showed desperate Afghans attempting to flee the country by clinging to departing aircraft but later falling to their death.
Among the planes that left Kabul overnight was a French military plane. France's Minister for the Armed Forces said this first evacuation flight landed in Abu Dhabi with "French citizens and nationals of partner countries" on board.
"We are actively working to organise the next rotations," she added.
Germany's Defence Ministry announced that its first evacuation flight had only seven passengers on board. It said however that the plane "brought our own forces there."
"They are now providing security so that other people can be protected on their way to the airport," it said.
EU Foreign Ministers are scheduled to convene by videoconference at 16:00 CEST for an extraordinary meeting to discuss Afghanistan.
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Taliban agree to allow civilian 'safe passage', says Biden adviser
More on the comments of top US officials on evacuations from Kabul, from AP.
The Taliban have agreed to allow “safe passage” from Afghanistan for civilians hoping to join a U.S.-directed airlift from the capital, President Joe Biden's national security adviser said Tuesday, although a timetable for completing the evacuation of Americans, Afghan allies and possibly other civilians has yet to be worked out with the country's new rulers.
Jake Sullivan acknowledged reports that some civilians were encountering resistance — “being turned away or pushed back or even beaten” — as they tried to reach the Kabul international airport. He said “very large numbers” were reaching the airport and the problem of others was being taken up with the Taliban, whose stunningly swift takeover of the country on Sunday plunged the U.S. evacuation effort into chaos, confusion and violence.
Sullivan also said that President Joe Biden has had no contact with foreign heads of state over Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul.
Italy's premier vows to protect Afghans' rights via G20
Italy's prime minister is vowing that Italy will remain committed to promoting and protecting fundamental rights in Afghanistan, especially of women, following the Taliban takeover and the evacuation of Western diplomats and military forces.
Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 industrialized countries this year, is “the natural” forum to launch a process of collaboration among countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in addition to Europe, Premier Mario Draghi said in an interview with RAI television.
He said the priority for Europe was to continue welcoming those Afghans who collaborated with the West and their families, those who worked for women’s rights in Afghanistan, and to ensure security to “prevent terrorist infiltration.”
Noting that a G20 ministerial meeting is planned later this month dedicated to women, as well as the leaders’ summit at the end of October, Draghi said: “This year of our presidency of the G20, we are fully committed to building the appropriate seat for this collaboration.” (with AP)
Taliban 'ready to protect' access to Kabul airport -- White House official
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We'll have to talk to Taliban, says EU's foreign affairs chief
Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, admitted on Tuesday that the bloc would have to speak to the Taliban as it had "won the war" in Afghanistan.
He also acknowledged Western intervention had failed in its objective of building an Afghan state.
"The Taliban have won the war. Therefore, we will have to talk with them, in order to engage in a dialogue as quickly as necessary to avoid a humanitarian and migratory disaster" and "prevent the return of a foreign terrorist presence" in Afghanistan, he indicated, while specifying that this did not imply a prompt official recognition of the Taliban regime.
Taliban assurances on media and Afghan workers
He said the group wanted private media to “remain independent,” but stressed journalists “should not work against national values.” And he promised 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.
Many Afghans however have greeted such assurances with scepticism and there have been reports of abuses in other parts of the country in recent days.
Taliban no2 and co-founder returns to Afghanistan
Taliban say country won't be haven for terrorists
Mujahid also stressed that Afghanistan would not allow itself to harbour anyone targeting other nations. That was a key demand in a deal the militants struck with the Trump administration in 2020 that led to the ultimate U.S. withdraw under current President Joe Biden.
He promised the insurgents would secure Afghanistan after they took over the country following a blitz that lasted over a week.
He said the insurgents sought no revenge. Many Afghans have expressed fear that the Taliban will return the country the brutal rule they used when last in charge, and foreign officials have said they will wait to see if the insurgents make good on their promises. (AP)
Taliban pledge to respect women's rights
The Taliban have been giving a news conference in Kabul, their first since their takeover of the Afghan capital.
A Taliban spokesman has pledged to honour women’s rights, but within the norms of Islamic law.
Zabihullah Mujahid made the comment Tuesday at his first news conference. For years, he had been a shadowy figure issuing statements on behalf of the militants.
His assertion that the Taliban would protect women’s rights comes after the Taliban’s earlier rule saw women’s lives and rights severely restricted.
Mujahid also said the Taliban wanted private media to “remain independent,” but stressed journalists “should not work against national values.”
- Thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans who worked with diplomatic missions are still waiting to be evacuated from Kabul Airport, which is under US military control.
- Vice president Amrullah Saleh has declared himself caretaker President of Afghanistan and called on his countrymen to join a resistance movement in the northeast.
- The Taliban has insisted it will build an "inclusive Islamic government" and called on women to take on political roles "according to Shariah law".
- Speaking at the first Taliban news conference, Mujahid sought to give assurances on women's rights, media freedom and treatment of Afghans who had worked with foreign countries.
- The Torkham crossing with Pakistan has reopened, allowing scores of trucks carrying commercial goods into Afghanistan.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has blamed the Taliban's sweeping resurgence on a "failure of leadership" by Afghan military and political heads.
- Germany has confirmed it has stopped all state-run development aid to Afghanistan until further notice.
- EU member states' foreign ministers are currently holding a crisis meeting and due to speak to reporters later tonight.
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"I'm not leaving them here," he said. "We are not leaving them behind. We gave them opportunities. We have them hope. We gave them aspirations, and we ripped them out from under their feet. They face the most horrendous future, that I wouldn't wish on anyone."
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"They need to be taking us in armoured vehicles to a specific, alternative location in the city, where they could pick us up by helicopter. NATO and the US need to make a transparent timetable for leaving. But there isn’t one."