Tag: Zabihullah Mujahid

  • Pakistan, TTP extend ceasefire indefinitely, agree to continue negotiations

    Pakistan, TTP extend ceasefire indefinitely, agree to continue negotiations

    The Government of Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have agreed to extend a ceasefire, reportedly indefinitely and continue negotiations to end the conflict that has resulted in the killings of thousands of people, reports Dawn.

    The agreement was made after both the government of Pakistan delegation and the TTP delegation met and held separate meetings with the Acting Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Afghanistan.

    Afghanistan’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid and TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani had earlier announced the extension of the ceasefire till May 30.

    From the TTP’s side, disbandment of the faction being termed as an armed militant group and the reversal of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) merger into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were key demands.

    However, the government didn’t accept the demands, saying that some demands were acceptable whereas others were not going to be accepted by Pakistan.

    The government’s delegation also made it clear that no armed group would be allowed to enter Pakistan territory.

    The next round of negotiations is expected to take place in the second week of June, in which a tribal jirga will hold direct talks with the TTP in Kabul.

  • Taliban deny reports of involvement in Kazakhstan unrest

    Taliban deny reports of involvement in Kazakhstan unrest

    A spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, has rejected all media reports of their involvement in fuelling the unrest in the Central Asia country, Kazakhstan, reports The Express Tribune.

    “We strongly reject such allegations and reports,” Mujahid claimed.

    He further added, “We have reiterated many times that the Afghan soil wouldn’t be used against any country, and we believe in zero interference in the affairs of other countries.”

    The Taliban spokesman also demanded a peaceful solution to the unrest in the country.

    “We believe in and demand a peaceful solution to the unrest of Kazakhstan and assure that we will not pose any threat or danger to the peaceful environment of the neighbourhood.”

    In January, several people were killed in the clash with security forces during a protest over a high price of the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Almaty city, Kazakhstan.

    Initially, the protest began in the western region of Mangystau province and spread to other parts of the country.

    President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev imposed a state of emergency in the Almaty city and hydrocarbon-rich western region of Mangystau effective from January 5 until January 19.

  • ‘We are not against education’, Taliban to open separate schools for girls

    ‘We are not against education’, Taliban to open separate schools for girls

    The Taliban has said that they hope to open all schools for girls and women across the country after March 21.

    Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson and deputy Culture and Information Minister of Afghanistan said girls and boys must be completely segregated in schools. According to him, the biggest obstacle so far has been finding enough space where girls could stay while going to school. In heavily populated areas, there is not enough space to have separate classrooms for boys and girls.

    “We are not against education,” Mujahid stressed while talking to Associated Press (AP). He also said women are working in the health and education sector and at Kabul International Airport in customs and passport control. But didn’t comment that whether women would be allowed to return to work in government ministries.

    Since August, girls in most of Afghanistan have not been allowed back to school beyond grade 7. However, private universities in the capital Kabul are still operating.

    Earlier this month, the United Nations (UN) launched a $5 billion appeal for the war-torn country.

  • 20 years of war ends as US forces leave Afghanistan

    20 years of war ends as US forces leave Afghanistan

    Celebratory gunfire echoed across Kabul as Taliban fighters took control of the war-torn country following the withdrawal of the last United States (US) troops, ending 20 years of war.

    Speaking to reporters from Kabul airport on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “We do not have any doubt that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a free and sovereign nation.”

    “America was defeated… and on behalf of my nation, we want to have good relations with the rest of the world,” he said.

    Officials said the last C17 aircraft took off with the US ambassador onboard after midnight local time on Tuesday.

    They added that the diplomatic mission to assist those unable to leave before the deadline would continue.

    The US and its allies have mounted the biggest air evacuation in history, bringing 114,000 of their own citizens and Afghans who helped them over 20 years of war in Afghanistan, but they will still leave behind thousands of Afghans who helped Western countries and might have qualified for evacuation.

  • Taliban execute a police chief despite assurances of peace

    Taliban execute a police chief despite assurances of peace

    Trigger warning: Violence

    The Taliban, on Wednesday, executed Haji Mullah Achakzai, the police chief of the Badghis province near Herat, Afghanistan.

    In a video that surfaced on Twitter on Thursday, Achakzai can be seen blindfolded, kneeling down on his knees as he was surrounded by Taliban individuals who shot him several times, reported Newsweek.

    https://twitter.com/NasserWaziri/status/1428343833788567561

    The group shared the video through a Taliban-related network, Afghan security advisor Nasser Waziri, who personally knew Achakzai, told Newsweek.

    “He was surrounded by the Taliban and had no choice but to surrender last night,” Waziri said. “The Taliban targeted Achakzai because he was a high-ranking intelligence official.”

    Waziri said that when the Taliban were able to hack into the Afghan intelligence database to track down government officials, they accessed information, photographs, biometrics, and national identification documents. As of Monday, they started “door-to-door investigations.”

    A door-to-door investigation is how the Taliban spots targeted individuals through families, according to Waziri. They threaten and abuse those individuals’ families to reveal their whereabouts.

    One of Waziri’s friends, a district governor who hasn’t been identified for security reasons, has been hiding in Kabul as the Taliban recently visited some of his family members in Nurstin, an Afghan province.

    “They [the Taliban] took the family out of their house and hit them so that they could give information on which city he can be,” Waziri said.

    Earlier this week, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had assured peace and stability in the region.

    The Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the western-backed government, said Mujahid, insisting that “everyone is forgiven”.

    “Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors,” said Mujahid. He said that the Taliban “do not wish to see any kind of chaos” in Kabul.

    “Our plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing all other provinces,” the spokesman claimed, adding that a “smooth transition” of power was what the group had sought to avoid “trouble, harm, and damages”.

  • We seek no revenge, will respect women’s rights, want free media, says Taliban spokesman

    We seek no revenge, will respect women’s rights, want free media, says Taliban spokesman

    Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said the group does not seek revenge and has “forgiven everyone”.

    “Will support women’s rights and a free media under Islamic law,” said Mujahid in his first press conference since the insurgent group took over Kabul.

    “The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights of women within the framework of the Sharia. Our sisters, our women will have the same rights and will be able to benefit from them.”

    “They can have activities in different sectors and areas on the basis of our rules and regulations — in education, health, and other areas,” he said, adding that they will “work with us shoulder-to-shoulder”.

    The Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the western-backed government, he said, insisting that “everyone is forgiven”.

    “Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors,” said Mujahid

    Mujahid noted that Afghanistan is at a stage where the country’s men and women are looking to the Taliban with regard to their future.

    “I would like to assure [them] that after consultations that will be completed very soon, we will be witnessing the formation of a strong, Islamic, and inclusive government, InshaAllah,” said Mujahid.

    Mujahid said that the security of embassies is of importance to the Taliban and wants to assure other countries that those areas will have complete security.

    “Your representatives, your embassies, your missions, international organisations, aid agencies, we assure you we will not allow anybody to do anything against you. Your security is ensured. Our forces are there round-the-clock to ensure your security,” he said.

    He said that the Taliban “do not wish to see any kind of chaos” in Kabul.

    “Our plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing all other provinces,” the spokesman claimed, adding that a “smooth transition” of power was what the group had sought to avoid “trouble, harm, and damages”.

    Mujahid also sought to assure the international community and the regional countries that the Taliban “will not allow the use of Afghan territory against anybody”.

    “We are committed to this pledge. You will not be harmed anywhere from our soil,” he said.

    Mujahid said private media could continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan, adding the Taliban was committed to the media within its cultural framework.

    “Will support women’s rights and a free media under Islamic law,” said Mujahid in his first press conference since the insurgent group took over Kabul.

    “The Islamic Emirate is committed to the rights of women within the framework of the Sharia. Our sisters, our women will have the same rights and will be able to benefit from them.”

    “They can have activities in different sectors and areas on the basis of our rules and regulations — in education, health, and other areas,” he said, adding that they will “work with us shoulder-to-shoulder”.

    The Taliban would not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the western-backed government, he said, insisting that “everyone is forgiven”.

    “Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors,” said Mujahid

    Mujahid noted that Afghanistan is at a stage where the country’s men and women are looking to the Taliban with regard to their future.

    “I would like to assure [them] that after consultations that will be completed very soon, we will be witnessing the formation of a strong, Islamic, and inclusive government, InshaAllah,” said Mujahid.

    Mujahid said that the security of embassies is of importance to the Taliban and wants to assure other countries that those areas will have complete security.

    “Your representatives, your embassies, your missions, international organisations, aid agencies, we assure you we will not allow anybody to do anything against you. Your security is ensured. Our forces are there round-the-clock to ensure your security,” he said.

    He said that the Taliban “do not wish to see any kind of chaos” in Kabul.

    “Our plan was to stop at the gates of Kabul after capturing all other provinces,” the spokesman claimed, adding that a “smooth transition” of power was what the group had sought to avoid “trouble, harm, and damages”.

    Mujahid also sought to assure the international community and the regional countries that the Taliban “will not allow the use of Afghan territory against anybody”.

    “We are committed to this pledge. You will not be harmed anywhere from our soil,” he said.

    Mujahid said private media could continue to be free and independent in Afghanistan, adding the Taliban was committed to the media within its cultural framework.