In an attempt to improve its image compared to the last time they were in charge of Afghanistan, the Taliban announced Tuesday it will respect women’s rights and forgive those who opposed them.
In his first news conference Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said women’s rights would be honored within the norms of Islamic law. Few other details were given.
As for private media, Mujahid said the Taliban wanted journalists to “remain independent,” but said they “should not work against national values.”
This is a stark difference from the brutal rule the group laid down in the late 1990s, fueled by ultraconservative Islamic views. This included severe restrictions on women as well as public stonings and amputations.
While the Taliban pledged not to go after their enemies, some in Kabul say Taliban fighters have lists of people who cooperated with the Afghan government. The Taliban are accused of seeking out people on those lists.
A broadcaster in Afghanistan said she was hiding at a relative’s house, too frightened to return home or go to work following reports saying the Taliban are also looking for journalists. She said she and other women didn’t believe the Taliban had changed their ways.
The still-tense situation in Afghanistan comes as the Department of Defense said U.S. military commanders at the Kabul airport are in touch with Taliban leaders.
“[The commanders] are charged with making sure this is a safe and secure environment and we trust them to have the interactions they feel they need to have to ensure that in every aspect across the whole spectrum of what this mission requires of them, that they can do it safely and efficiently in an orderly manner,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Major General William “Hank” Taylor gave an update on the Kabul airport, a day after at least seven people died trying to escape the country via the airport.
“[The airport] remains secure, it is currently open for military flight operations as well as limited commercial flight operations,” Maj. Gen. Taylor said. “The speed of evacuation will pick up. Right now, we’re looking at one aircraft per hour in and out of [the airport]. We predict that our best effort could look like 5,000 to 9,000 passengers departing per day.”