Taliban Meets Several Political Figures, Aims to Establish Central Government
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After capturing the majority of Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem announces that the movement aims to establish a central government in Afghanistan.
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Taliban spokesman, Mohmmad Naeem.
Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Naeem, said the movement wants to establish a central government that respects the rule of law.
The spokesman announced on Twitter that a "Delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan met with several political figures in Kabul," and that the delegation reassured the political figures regarding their safety and security.
The field commander of Al-Haqqani Network, Khalil Haqqani, announced that Ahmad Masoud, son of Ahmad Shah Masoud, pledged his allegiance to the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" following talks with Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's former Chief Executive, and Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official.
Ahmad Shah Masoud led the Northern Alliance forces in the fight against the USSR in the 80s and the Taliban in the 90s.
Masoud pledging allegiance to the Taliban comes as Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the movement's co-founder, has been making efforts to establish a new and ‘inclusive’ government in Afghanistan. The announcement came hours after the Taliban's second man arrived at Kabul for talks on establishing a new ‘inclusive’ government.
Russian Ambassador: The Taliban want a political settlement
Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said the Taliban asked Russian diplomats to inform the resistance in Panjshir province of the Taliban's desire to reach a political settlement with them.
Zhirnov stated that he met senior Taliban officials who asked for Russian mediation to inform the resistance that the movement wants to avoid bloodshed.
Since May, the Taliban has been expanding its scope in Afghanistan, coinciding with the US-led coalition's withdrawal from the country.
Borrell: US security at Kabul airport is overly strict
European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, said it is impossible for the United States and its allies to evacuate tens of thousands of Afghans and their families by the end of the month. "They want to evacuate 60,000 people between now and the end of this month. It's mathematically impossible."
"We have complained" to the Americans that their security at Kabul airport was overly strict and was hampering attempts by Afghans who worked for the Europeans to enter, he told AFP in a telephone interview.
Following the recent events in Afghanistan, i.e., the Taliban takeover, the Kabul airport is in a state of chaos as thousands attempt to flee the country.
Thousands are waiting at the gates of the Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul, while some have tried to bypass security and enter the airport. NATO and Taliban officials have declared that at least 12 people have been killed at the airport and its vicinity since Sunday.
