Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada in an Eid message on Sunday said that “we shall have an Afghan-inclusive Islamic system in which all people shall feel a sense of representation based on their abilities and skills, and none shall have their rights violated.”
The Taliban leader called on "Afghans in the opposition ranks to end all attempts at continuing the war," saying: "We must unite upon Islamic injunctions and protect ourselves from all discord and prejudice.”
"The arms of the Islamic Emirate (the term used for Taliban movement) are wide open for all Afghans that have previously stood in opposition to us," he said.
"We are extending our hand of amnesty and affection, and inviting them to join the path of truth,” Mullah Hibatullah said.
Mullah Hibatullah called for the implementation of the Doha agreement and said if the US "fails once again to live up to its commitments, the world must bear witness and hold America accountable for all the consequences.”
He says they are ready to protect the independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan at any cost.
Before this, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, a top negotiator for the Taliban in Doha, said that the Taliban does not intend to seize power through military struggle.
As the timeline for a US-proposed peace conference on Afghanistan in Turkey approaches, Stanekzai made the remarks during a virtual meeting with envoys from the UN, Norway, Sweden, Germany, US and the UK.
Stanekzai clarified that forming a coalition government was not a solution to the conflict, saying there is a need for a strong centralized Islamic government in which the rights of every Afghan citizen is protected, not a few.
“The Islamic Emirate does not accept a coalition government. There is a need for a strong centralized Islamic system, a system in which every Afghan sees their rights, not a few people, a system in which the rights of every Afghan national is reflected,” said Stanekzai.
He also said that the conditional release of 7,000 Taliban prisoners and the removal of names of Taliban leaders from the UN blacklist were key to moving the peace process forward.
“Whenever a member of our delegation wants to go and meet our leaders or military commanders, it takes them days and this causes a disruption in the peace process,” said Stanekzai, indirectly asking for the removal of Taliban names from the UN blacklist.
The Taliban negotiator also made assurances that Afghan women will be allowed to play a role in the political process of the country and that freedom of speech will be included in the framework of Islamic Sharia.
“There is a contrast in the Taliban’s words and actions. If the Taliban really wants to prove their words true, then they must engage in purposeful talks and announce a ceasefire,” said Ilyas Wahdat, the former governor of Paktika.
“The republic should be supported, both Afghans and foreigners must support the republic. It is very important,” said MP Abrarullah Murad.
Meanwhile, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has said that the US will stand with Afghans who support the Republic if the Taliban do not choose the path for peace.
He made the remarks after concluding a trip to the region in which he visited Tashkent, Doha Kabul and Dushanbe. He said that he attended a meeting with their allies in Berlin.