PESHAWAR: The Afghan Taliban have declared the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ that was the name of the country from 1996 to 11 September 2001. The announcement was made by the Taliban’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on social media on Thursday.
In its official communication, the group has always used the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’.
On August 15, the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, Kabul, while President Ashraf Ghani fled with his close associates to to United Arab Emirate to “avoid bloodshed”. But the Taliban announced general amnesty after taking control of Kabul, claiming that the war has ended and now they will not take revenge against any party.
Yesterday, the Afghan Taliban leader Anas Haqqani met with members of Afghanistan Reconciliation Council, Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, while Taliban deputy chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has also arrived in Afghanistan after 20 years of exile.
On the other hand, the evacuation of foreign nationals and diplomatic staff from the Afghan capital Kabul is underway, while US President Joe Biden said that troops will remain in Afghanistan till the completion of evacuation process. Meanwhile, Washington has frozen the assets of the Afghan government, while the IMF and Germany have announced to withhold funds from Afghanistan due to the “complicated situation”.
Meanwhile China has expressed a desire to establish relations with the Taliban, while Turkey made it clear that whoever is in power, Akara will stand with the people of Afghanistan. However, Pakistan said that it will take any decision regarding the recognition of the Taliban government after consultation with the friendly countries.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan called on former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and former Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah. Khan said on social media that he had a constructive discussion with Karzai and Dr Abdullah on the latest situation in Afghanistan and lasting stability. Meanwhile to ensure a coordinating transfer of power, the Afghan political leadership has formed the “Coordination Council” under Hamid Karzai.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Massoud, son of ‘lion of Panjshir’ – Ahmad Shah Massoud – declared resistance against the Taliban and sought help from ‘friends’ in United States and Afghanistan. He made the announcement in an article published in the Washington post on Thursday. , Massoud also announced his faction in Panjshir Valley under the name of the ‘National Resistance Front of Afghanistan’. “I’m writing from the Panjshir Valley, ready to follow in my father’s footsteps, with Mujahideen fighters who are ready to fight the Taliban once again,” Massoud wrote.