Afghanistan crisis: Taliban strike conciliatory tone, promise peace and respect for women

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 resumed evacuating diplomats and civilians the day after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans thronged the runway.

KABUL: After taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban have said that they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law. The Taliban said all this as they held their first official news briefing since their lightning 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 resumed evacuating diplomats and civilians the day after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans thronged the runway. As the group consolidated power, the Taliban said one of its leaders and co-founders, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, had returned to Afghanistan for the first time in more than 10 years. Baradar was arrested in 2010 but released from prison in 2018 at the request of former US President Donald Trump`s administration so he could participate in peace talks.