Kabul (AP) in Afghanistan — Deputy Interior Minister of the Taliban — nominated as a terrorist by the United States — was in a rare public event on Saturday, when security police convicted of illegal activity in Afghanistan filed a series of allegations of abuse. He later said he was being punished.
For the first time, a photo showing the face of Sirajuddin Haqqani has been released on the official Taliban government channel. That was in contrast to the October look, where pictures of influential and unobtrusive figures were blurry.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Haqqanistan has been filmed at a first-class Saturday graduation ceremony to complete police training. At the ceremony, about 377 people, both male and female, graduated.
The event marks the first time Haqqani has issued a statement to the media since he was appointed Minister of the Interior.
Haqqani said in a speech at the ceremony that Taliban security personnel who committed crimes against Afghan citizens were being criminalized. Citizens have complained about house-to-house attacks and abuse by Taliban militants at checkpoints.
In January, a young woman was shot dead by Taliban security police at a checkpoint. He was later arrested.
Haqqani admitted that “something was wrong” among former Taliban fighters who had transitioned from war to street security and added that they were being trained.
Haqqani said the international community should not consider his government a threat and needs foreign aid to revive the country. He said his government committed to the Doha Peace Agreement signed between the Taliban and the United States last February, ending the war in Afghanistan.
The agreement requires the Taliban to prevent militant groups like al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base to threaten international security.
In a clear reference to international concerns that the Taliban is willing to grant access to education and employment for women, Haqqani allows women to work and go to school in Afghanistan, which is dominated by the Taliban. Said.
“Today, our sisters are attending this ceremony, receiving diplomas, and holding various positions,” said one of the female police graduates. He did not specify the number of women who graduated.
The Taliban has urged the release of billions of dollars of Afghan central bank reserves frozen abroad as the country fights drought, cash shortages and massive hunger.
Haqqani has been wanted by the FBI and has a $ 10 million incentive for information that could lead to his arrest.
He called on thousands of Afghans who fled the country after the Taliban was hijacked to return home.
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Akhgar reported from Islamabad.