Taliban ‘wants Turkey’s support to continue’, says Spokesperson Mujahid

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Spokesperson for Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid has spoken to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) about the developments in Afghanistan.

Commenting on last week's deadly blast by ISIS-K near Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital city of Kabul, Mujahid has argued that the "US soldiers shot and killed civilians in a panic after the blast."

"A report we got indicated that the US soldiers opened fire on the crowd following the attack at Kabul airport. There were many people. Therefore, civilians, including women and children, lost their lives," he has said.

Arguing that no organization will have any excuse left to fight after the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from the country and the establishment of the new government, Spokesperson Mujahid has indicated that "the people operating under ISIS in the country did not come from Iraq or Syria but they are Afghans with the terrorist group's mentality."

Taliban seeks Turkey's continued support

Mujahid has also said that the Taliban wants to have "very good" relations with Turkey. "The Turkish public and state are our friends. There are several reasons why this friendship should continue," he has said.

Noting that the Taliban has special forces to provide security at Kabul airport, Mujahid has indicated that it will not be difficult to accomplish this while doing it for all of Afghanistan, including the capital.

Regarding the logistic and technical needs at Hamid Karzai International Airport, he has briefly said, "We had talks with Turkey. We assured them that there would be no security problems, that we will deal with the needs after we have taken care of the airport completely. If necessary, we may ask for these needs from Turkey or another country."

Seeking Turkey's continued support on Afghanistan, he has added, "We want to have economic relations with Turkey, too. We need Turkey's support in the field of education, just as before. We want their aid to continue on this issue. We want the Turkish public and state to maintain friendly relations because there is a deep historical bond between the Afghan and Turkish peoples."

'Money blocked abroad will be reclaimed'

Mujahid has said that financial problems, which are short-term problems, will be resolved gradually once the government is formed.

"Afghanistan already has its own income. Besides, we will demand the return of the money belonging to Afghanistan, which was blocked [in the US and Switzerland] after the formation of the government," he has said.

Underlining the Taliban's desire for aid from the World Bank and various international sources to continue, he has said that the Afghan public needs their help in every field, especially humanitarian and medical aid.

When asked about the whereabouts of Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, who had been in hiding for years and did not share any visual or audio recordings, Mujahid has said that he is in Kandahar.

He has also stated that negotiations are continuing with Tajik leader Ahmad Massoud, who has resisted handing over Afghanistan's Panjshir province to the Taliban. "We don't want to fight. We are in favor of negotiations. If negotiations fail, the area around Panjshir is already surrounded by Taliban forces. If we want, we can seize it in a very short time." (EMK/SD)