A day after TOLOnews published a document titled the "Charter of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," the Taliban on Tuesday rejected it, saying it has "nothing to do with the Islamic Emirate."

“Yesterday, some media outlets published documents with many articles and claimed it was the charter of the Islamic Emirate. We reject this report and the papers. The Islamic Emirate, during its full rule, had a constitution called the Islamic Emirate Order, which was not finalized and signed. After the occupation of the United States, the Islamic Emirate has only a jihadist bill, and the Taliban commissions are regulating this. These papers, called the "charter," have nothing to do with the Islamic Emirate,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman.

The charter, which contained many articles that laid out the structure and procedure of an "Islamic emirate" government, showed little difference from the policies of the Taliban regime that was in power in the late 1990s. 
 
“If they (the Taliban) are inflexible about their demands and the government officials and government representatives are inflexible on their side, a compromise and a negotiated agreement will not be reached,” said Fizullah Jalal, a university lecturer.
 
Jalaluddin Shinwari, the attorney general in the Taliban regime, said that this charter is not new, but it is from the Taliban era, and that he was also present at the time of its writing.
 
“This charter was published 22 or 23 years ago, and I was there. The title of the Islamic emirate and the white flag might be some of the most pressing and important issues in the inter-Afghan talks, and these are debatable and the Taliban will pave the way for the talks with these issues--the inter-Afghan talks--and as far as the outcome of the debate, one cannot say anything now,” said Shinwari.
 
Shinwari also said that the delay in the inter-Afghan talks is the only reason for the escalation of violence in the country.
 
“This is about how powerful the government is in Kabul, and how it enters into negotiations, and with what kind of authority it can impose its views. And second, how much does the international community stand by the people of Afghanistan,” said Nasrullah Stanikzai, a university professor.
 
A number of senators say the Afghan government must protect the gains and freedoms of the Afghan people over the past two decades.
 
“Freedom of expression, democracy and the achievements of the elections in Afghanistan--they are all the achievements we've sacrificed for,” said Gulali Akbari, a senator.
 
The "charter," which defines the framework of a system, was provided to TOLOnews by a senior government official.
 
The senior government official said the charter had also been seen by the government leadership.