KUNDUZ: A Taliban spokesperson in the city of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan has called on the international community to ramp up its provision of aid to the country, stressing that the militants are not terrorists.
Provincial spokesman Matiullah Ruhani said aid could take the form of investment, reconstruction projects "or any kind of humanitarian support for the government or citizens of Afghanistan," he said in Kunduz, in a request directed to "the entire international community including Germany."
The Taliban would "very much welcome" help, he said.
The Taliban captured Kunduz on August 8, in one of a series of rapid advances that ultimately saw the group take control of the entire country.
The last US troops left Afghanistan at the end of August, marking the end of a military mission that lasted nearly two decades.
Ruhani criticised the international community for supporting what he described as a "corrupt government" in Afghanistan over the past 20 years, but stopping its aid when the Taliban came to power. The Taliban brought peace to Afghanistan, he said, adding, "we are not terrorists."
Governments around the world are weighing how best to deal with the Taliban, mindful of the group's abysmal human rights record, while also focused on alleviating the burgeoning humanitarian disaster facing the country.
During its first period in power between 1996 and 2001, the group enforced a strictly lifestyle and completely barred women from work and education outside the home.
Ruhani refused to comment on the Taliban's controversial policies towards women, referring journalists to the transitional government in Kabul.
Ruhani said only that the Taliban valued all citizens, women and men alike.
MAIN FOCUS
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to push Joe Biden on the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the potential of reopening UK-US travel and climate change during a visit to the White House.
The Prime Minister will head to Washington during an environment-focused trip to the US, where he will urge world leaders to take greater action on their commitments to tackle the climate crisis.
With some 100 world leaders expected in New York at the United Nations General Assembly this week, Johnson will seek to galvanise action during a series of high-level meetings. Johnson sees the annual UN meeting as a ripe opportunity to impress on major polluters the need to meet their commitments as he prepares to host the Cop26 summit in Glasgow in November.
He will also make what will be his first visit to the White House since Biden succeeded Donald Trump as US president.
Many had hoped the Democrat's arrival would restore the "special relationship" between the UK and US to full health, but the crisis in Afghanistan has put it under strain. Biden rejected calls from the Prime Minister and other allies to delay his withdrawal of troops to buy more time to evacuate former Afghan staff, their families and other vulnerable citizens.
With refusal meaning possibly thousands were left behind, Johnson is expected to discuss further efforts to stem a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister is also likely to push for a restoration of UK-US travel, with Biden's administration having imposed a ban due to soaring rates of the Delta variant of coronavirus. Fallout from the new AUKUS military pact between the UK, US and Australia is also expected to be under discussion.
Not only has it angered China, but France has recalled ambassadors to the US and Australia because the agreement to provide nuclear submarines to Canberra meant the cancellation of a $66-billion deal for the French.
Johnson will also meet vice-president Kamala Harris and other senior figures in American politics, as he eyes a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.
Ahead of the visit, Johnson said he would be pushing world leaders in New York to take "concrete action on coal, climate, cars and trees".
He said: "World leaders have a small window of time left to deliver on their climate commitments ahead of Cop26.
"My message to those I meet this week will be clear: future generations will judge us based on what we achieve in the coming months.
"We need to continue to make a case for a sustainable recovery from coronavirus rooted in green growth. And we have a responsibility to ensure the benefits of that growth extend to all, no matter where they are born."
He will focus on supporting developing nations to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis, as well as on adapting to its consequences. - dpa
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