The Austrian 'Kronen Zeitung' on Aug 30 carried an interview with Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman of the new Taliban government.
"We'll take back your delinquent asylum seekers!" 
krone.at
Shams Ul-Haq, interviewer:
Mr. Zabihullah Mujahid, especially the Europeans are wondering, what are the Taliban up to in Kabul, where will their rule lead?
Zabihullah Mujahid: We are in the process of forming a government. Then normality will return. There is already a high level of security everywhere in Afghanistan, including Kabul.
You don't get that impression at the airport. Dozens of people died here recently. From the looks of it, IS claimed responsibility.
That's true. But it happened where the Americans are in charge. When the U.S. moved its troops from Kabul to the airport, they called everyone there who wanted to get to America or Europe. This could only result in the chaos that could be used for terror. The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the attack on civilians at Kabul Airport. The Islamic Emirate pays great attention to the security of its citizens. Where we have control, we prevent such acts. Except for the airport, Kabul is safe, and so are the provinces.
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman (left), with Shams Ul-Haq, interviewer
Why do you think Afghans are leaving their homeland and want to go abroad so badly?
Some are afraid because of the propaganda. They want to leave even though we promise them their safety. Others simply want to emigrate to Europe or America. This is not new. Young people in particular have always tried to get to Europe via Turkey and Greece. This is not only a problem for Afghanistan. There is also poverty in Pakistan and other countries. Many now want to take the opportunity to escape it. That, too, has led to the enormous rush.
Do you let the Afghans go who want to travel?
On the one hand, we have people who want to leave illegally. That is not permissible. Those who have no documents and want to go abroad unsuspectingly experience miserable conditions there. Everybody knows that. But those who have a passport and a visa have the right to do so. In principle, Afghans have the right to travel wherever they want. But not right now with all the chaos at the airport. We are trying to break up this rush. Those who do not have documents should not come to the airport. We are not going to allow that. Later we will find a way that those who want to leave can leave.
Afghan refugees are a constant topic for Germany and Austria. So let's get back to the point: Do you allow people to leave? Yes or no?
We are not happy about people leaving Afghanistan. They should stay. For those who are worried, we try to take away their fear. We are not happy about Afghans going abroad.
So you want Afghans to stay?
Of course. Our goal is for Afghans not to leave their homes, not to embark on miserable escape routes. We know that the situation in Europe for our refugees is anything but rosy. Women and children are housed in horrible collective accommodations. Afghanistan is our common country. People who want to leave should be patient. Our economy will recover, jobs will be created. The security situation has already stabilized.
Would your government take back Afghan citizens if they are not eligible for asylum in Germany and Austria and perhaps have committed crimes?
Yes. They would be presented to a court. The court would have to decide what to do with them.
In your eyes, what was the Americans' intention in staying in Afghanistan for almost 20 years?
It was mainly for geostrategic reasons. They wanted to have bases here, to stay forever, to control the other Asian and non-Asian countries from here. But the Afghan people long for freedom and do not tolerate foreign powers. We have resisted the Americans and forced them to withdraw their troops. In 20 years, the Americans have done nothing for us except continue the war, bomb the people, and destroy the economy. Poverty and the production of drugs have been encouraged. The misery of the present is the achievement of 20 years of American occupation.
Women's rights in Afghanistan are viewed critically around the world, especially in the context of the Taliban. The Taliban force women to wear veils. Women are considered to have no rights. The issue is being debated in Germany and Austria. The media ask what the future of women in Afghanistan will look like. What guarantee of their rights and what opportunities for women's education will there be?
We will secure all the rights that women are entitled to under Sharia law. Women are our citizens and have the right to live well in our country. Our jurisprudence and tradition are not against women. These rights are for women to live and feel safe. We will give women Islamic rights, provide education, and create frameworks for work. We are in the process of shaping all of this.
How will you resolve the conflict with Ahmad Massoud? As long as he rules in Panjshir, there will be no peace in Afghanistan.
This is not a big deal. In a small area in Panjshir, there are two people who are against us. One is Ahmad Massoud, the other is Amrullah Saleh. Our troops have just moved into Panjshir from four sides. But we don't want the war to continue there. We want to reach a solution through dialogue. If we don't manage to do that, we can quickly solve the problem militarily.
And how do you settle your conflict with IS? The Europeans expect IS supporters to be increasingly drawn to Kabul.
As I said, there is no IS where we have control. Some Afghans who used to follow IS in Syria and Iraq have now returned, but we don't see any danger in them. They will not cause any problems for Afghanistan.
Germany and Austria have stopped paying development funds. How could you cooperate with EU countries?
We want to maintain good relations with Europe, even though Europeans supported the war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan urgently needs trade and diplomatic relations with these countries. If Europeans have concerns, they are welcome to tell us diplomatically. We are open to talks and hope to allay these concerns.
The Taliban make a lot of promises. Are you going to keep them?
We are forming a government to enforce what we promise. The sanctions, the freezing of our funds, are unfair to all 35 million Afghans living here. As I said, now it's a matter of Europe and the Islamic Emirate to talk to each other.
Destinations of refugees from the war-torn country
Source: UNHCR
www.rt.com
- kind of the like the clown(s) from the movie 'IT' in positions of power throughout the world.
