Taliban Seeks Ties with US, Other Countries
2021-12-16
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers say they want education and jobs for women.
2A top Taliban leader expressed that idea while talking with The Associated Press (AP) recently.
3He said the group seeks to earn the world's "mercy and compassion" to help millions of Afghans in need.
4Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also told the AP that the Taliban government wants good relations with all countries.
5He said it has no problem with the United States.
6He urged the United States and other nations to release up to $10 billion that were frozen when the Taliban took power.
7The Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15 when the earlier Afghan government fled the country.
8"Sanctions against Afghanistan would...not have any benefit," Muttaqi said from Kabul on Sunday.
9"Making Afghanistan unstable or having a weak Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone," he added.
10His assistants include workers from earlier governments as well as Taliban fighters.
11Muttaqi said he understood the world's anger over limits on girls' education and on women in the workforce.
12In many parts of Afghanistan,
13female students between grades seven and 12 have not been permitted to go to school since the Taliban took over.
14Many female government workers have been told to stay home.
15Taliban officials have said they need time to create schools and workplaces which separate women and men to meet Islamic rules.
16The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
17The group barred girls and women from schools and jobs.
18They also banned most entertainment and sports, and carried out executions in front of large crowds.
19But Muttaqi said the Taliban has changed since it last ruled.
20Muttaqi said that under the new Taliban government, girls are going to school all the way through grade 12.
21He said the gains are taking place in 10 of the country's 34 provinces.
22Private schools and colleges are operating as they were before the Taliban took power.
23And all women who had held jobs in healthcare are working again.
24"This shows that we are committed in principle to women participation," he said.
25He said the Taliban has not targeted its opponents.
26Leaders of the earlier government live without threat in Kabul, he said.
27Most of them, however, have fled.
28Last month, the international group Human Rights Watch published a report that said the Taliban killed or caused more than 100 former police and intelligence officials to disappear.
29However, there have been no reports of mass acts of punishment.
30He said the Taliban made mistakes in their first months in power and promised to make reforms to help the nation.
31He did not tell the AP what the mistakes were or what the possible reforms could be.
32Muttaqi disputed comments by U.S. General Frank McKenzie.
33He said that the terror group al-Qaida has gotten more powerful in Afghanistan since the Americans left.
34McKenzie is America's top military official in the Middle East.
35The Taliban promised in a February 2020 agreement that it would fight terrorism if U.S troops left the country.
36Muttaqi said Sunday that the Taliban have kept that promise.
37"Unfortunately, there are (always) allegations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but there is no proof," Muttaqi said.
38Militants from the Islamic State group have been carrying out more attacks on the Taliban and religious minorities in the past four months.
39Muttaqi said he does not think the Taliban would cooperate with the U.S. in a battle against the Islamic State group.
40However, he said he hopes that with time the U.S. will see a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a benefit to the U.S.
41"America will slowly, slowly change its policy toward Afghanistan," he said.
42I'm Dan Novak.
1Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers say they want education and jobs for women. 2A top Taliban leader expressed that idea while talking with The Associated Press (AP) recently. He said the group seeks to earn the world's "mercy and compassion" to help millions of Afghans in need. 3Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also told the AP that the Taliban government wants good relations with all countries. He said it has no problem with the United States. He urged the United States and other nations to release up to $10 billion that were frozen when the Taliban took power. The Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15 when the earlier Afghan government fled the country. 4"Sanctions against Afghanistan would...not have any benefit," Muttaqi said from Kabul on Sunday. 5"Making Afghanistan unstable or having a weak Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone," he added. His assistants include workers from earlier governments as well as Taliban fighters. 6Muttaqi said he understood the world's anger over limits on girls' education and on women in the workforce. In many parts of Afghanistan, female students between grades seven and 12 have not been permitted to go to school since the Taliban took over. Many female government workers have been told to stay home. Taliban officials have said they need time to create schools and workplaces which separate women and men to meet Islamic rules. 7The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The group barred girls and women from schools and jobs. They also banned most entertainment and sports, and carried out executions in front of large crowds. 8But Muttaqi said the Taliban has changed since it last ruled. 9Muttaqi said that under the new Taliban government, girls are going to school all the way through grade 12. He said the gains are taking place in 10 of the country's 34 provinces. Private schools and colleges are operating as they were before the Taliban took power. And all women who had held jobs in healthcare are working again. 10"This shows that we are committed in principle to women participation," he said. 11He said the Taliban has not targeted its opponents. Leaders of the earlier government live without threat in Kabul, he said. Most of them, however, have fled. 12Last month, the international group Human Rights Watch published a report that said the Taliban killed or caused more than 100 former police and intelligence officials to disappear. However, there have been no reports of mass acts of punishment. 13He said the Taliban made mistakes in their first months in power and promised to make reforms to help the nation. He did not tell the AP what the mistakes were or what the possible reforms could be. 14Muttaqi disputed comments by U.S. General Frank McKenzie. He said that the terror group al-Qaida has gotten more powerful in Afghanistan since the Americans left. McKenzie is America's top military official in the Middle East. 15The Taliban promised in a February 2020 agreement that it would fight terrorism if U.S troops left the country. Muttaqi said Sunday that the Taliban have kept that promise. 16"Unfortunately, there are (always) allegations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but there is no proof," Muttaqi said. 17Militants from the Islamic State group have been carrying out more attacks on the Taliban and religious minorities in the past four months. Muttaqi said he does not think the Taliban would cooperate with the U.S. in a battle against the Islamic State group. 18However, he said he hopes that with time the U.S. will see a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a benefit to the U.S. 19"America will slowly, slowly change its policy toward Afghanistan," he said. 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Kathy Gannon reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 22_________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24mercy - n. kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly 25compassion - n. a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble 26sanctions - n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade or cutting economic aid 27benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect 28unstable - n. not held in a secure position ; likely to move or fall 29entertainment - n amusement or pleasure that comes from watching a performer, playing a game 30commit - v. to do something; to carry something out 31principle - n. used to say that something which has not yet happened or been done should be possible according to what is known 32participation - n. to be involved with others in doing something; to take part in an activity or event with others 33allegation - n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal