Taliban announces ‘amnesty,’ urges women to join Govt.

“The Islamic Emirate doesn’t want women to be victims,” said Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission. “They should be in government structure according to Shariah law.”

He added: “The structure of government is not fully clear, but based on experience, there should be a fully Islamic leadership and all sides should join.”

Major reports of abuses or fighting haven’t yet been reported as people remained confined to their homes and in consternation. Older generations remember their ultraconservative Islamic views, which included stonings, amputations and public executions during their rule before the U.S.-led invasion.

Samangani remained vague on other details, however, implying people already knew the rules of Islamic law the Taliban expected them to follow.“Our people are Muslims and we are not here to force them to Islam,” he said.

Under the Taliban, women were largely confined to their homes as insurgents have tried to project a moderate image since their takeover.

“The world is following events in Afghanistan with a heavy heart and deep disquiet about what lies ahead,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Talks appeared to be continuing between the Taliban and several Afghan Government officials, including former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country’s negotiating council.An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi had arrived in Kabul from Qatar. Muttaqi is a former Higher Education Minister during the Taliban’s last rule. – THE STATESMAN