Taliban's first official press conference, here's everything you need to know- In pics

The Taliban held their first official news conference in Kabul on Tuesday (August 17), promising to respect the rights of women, seek good relations with other countries, and not to extract retribution on former members of the Afghan military.

 

Zabihullah Mujahid, the movement's main spokesman, echoed assurances from other Taliban officials who have sought to calm fears that the swift seizure of Kabul would lead to a repeat of the public executions and punishments that marked the movement`s previous time in power two decades ago.

(Reuters Photo)

"We don`t want to repeat any conflict, any war again, and we want to do away with the factors for conflict," he said through a translator.

 

"Animosities have come to an end, and we would like to live peacefully. We don`t want any internal enemies and any external enemies."

 

He said a new government would be formalised as soon as the unstable conditions in Kabul permitted.

(Reuters Photo)

The rights of women, one of the main focuses of international concern in Afghanistan, would be respected and they would be allowed to work and study and be active in society "but within the framework of Islam."

 

Promising an amnesty for former members of the Afghan army and police, he said translators and contractors who worked with international forces since 2001 would not be harmed.

 

Women would be allowed to work and study and "will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam", he added.

(Reuters Photo)

"Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors," he said, adding that the Taliban hoped the large crowds of people frantically trying to board flights out of Afghanistan would stay and help rebuild their country.

 

He also pledged that Afghanistan, the source of most of the world`s heroin according to a UN drugs control agency, would be free of narcotics, asking the international community to help it develop alternative crops for farmers who have relied on opium poppies for their livelihood.

(Reuters Photo)

The Afghan Taliban said on Tuesday they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law, as they held their first official news briefing since their shock seizure of Kabul.

 

The Taliban announcements, short on details but suggesting a softer line than during their rule 20 years ago, came as the United States and Western allies evacuated diplomats and civilians the day after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans thronged the airfield.

(Reuters Photo)