The Taliban has offered a pardon to runaway Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Vice President Amrullah Saleh, allowing them to return to the country if they wish to do so, senior Taliban leader Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani told Pakistan’s Geo TV.
“We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh, and (Afghan Presidential Security Adviser) Hamdullah Mohib. We forgive everyone, starting from a general who fought against us to a common person”, Haqqani said, adding that the enmity between the Taliban and these three politicians only arose on the basis of religion.
Haqqani urged people fleeing the country not to do so, adding that the “enemy” was spreading propaganda that the Taliban will exact revenge on them.
“Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers,” he added.
Haqqani said the Taliban were not the ones who went to war against the US, adding that the group had decided to take up arms against the US after it invaded their homeland and fought against its culture, religion, and country.
“The Americans were using weapons against us, on our homeland,” he said, adding that God gave the Taliban American weapons as the spoils of war.
The leading Taliban figure said the group wanted all Muslim countries to reconcile with one another. He advised countries worldwide to provide due rights to their citizens, adding that an inclusive Afghan government will be formed in Afghanistan.
“Highly capable, educated people will form the government in Afghanistan,” he vowed. “People who unite the masses will be included in the new government.”
Promising a government that would represent all groups within Afghanistan, Haqqani said people from all schools of thought were pledging their allegiance to the Taliban.
Source: Agencies
