The Winds of Afghanistan

M.K. Bhadrakumar

The Return of the Native

There is immense curiosity about the Taliban’s first moves following the dramatic return to Kabul after two decades. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether the Taliban has ‘changed’ since the 1990s. Opinions vary. But so far at least, there are no signs of a return of repressive authoritarian rule.

The stunning press conference on Tuesday in Kabul by the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid distinctly exuded an air of moderation and tolerance to dissenting voices. The fact that local journalists could ask such provocative questions and get away with it has been widely noticed. Mujahid patiently answered. The following quotes speak for themselves:

• We seek no revenge and ‘everyone is forgiven’
• We will honour women’s rights but within the norms of Islamic law
• We want private media to remain independent, but the media should not work against national interests
• Afghanistan will not allow itself to harbour anyone targeting other nations
• Afghanistan will be a narcotics-free country
• In particular, Mujahid said women would be allowed to work and study and ‘will be very active in society but within the framework of Islam’. Similarly, his assurance that ‘everyone is forgiven’ referring to former soldiers and members of Ghani’s government has made a remarkable impression.
• ‘Nobody is going to harm you, nobody is going to knock on your doors,’ Mujahid said.

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Two other specific remarks by Mujahid were of far-reaching consequence to any open society:

• Taliban will not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries.
• Private and independent media could continue but they should abide by the cultural norms.

Why did Mujahid do such a risky thing? One, he came prepared to say what he said. Most certainly, he acted under instructions from the leadership to put the above positions on record right at the outset even before forming a new government, as a confidence-building measure. By the way, the press conference was open to the international media as well.

The press conference put the ‘Taliban-baiters’ who are barely surviving on fake news about Taliban’s ‘excesses’—largely based on hearsay and rumours—in some distress and confusion. The point is, it is becoming difficult to hold on to stereotyped notions as if time stood still for the Taliban since they vanished from Kabul overnight in the winter of 2001.

To my mind, however, the really striking thing i