The Taliban on Monday assured Afghans who worked for US-led NATO troops that they should not fear for their lives once these forces leave.
The statement urges Afghans who worked as guards or interpreters for foreign forces to “show remorse for their past actions” and not engage in similar activities. According to the radical movement, such actions amount to treason against Islam and the country.
“But none should currently desert the country. The Islamic Emirate [the name by which the Taliban refer to themselves] will not perturb them, but calls them to return to their normal lives and if they do have expertise in any field, to serve their country. They shall not be in any danger on our part,” a spokesman added.
On May 1, the United States and NATO began withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan. American forces are planned to leave by September 11. According to the US Central Command, as of early June, 30 to 44 percent of US troops have departed Afghanistan.
The pullout comes over a year after the US and the Taliban signed the first-ever peace agreement in Doha.
Earlier, Kyrgyzstan believes that its border with Tajikistan in the direction of Afghanistan should be strengthened in cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in order to prevent terrorists from crossing into Central Asia, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Russia Gulnara-Klara Samat said in an interview with Sputnik.
“Both within the CSTO and on other regional and international platforms, Kyrgyzstan always promotes the need of strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border.
We also believe it is important to jointly strengthen the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in the direction of Afghanistan, as this is the second barrier to the international terrorist organizations’ possible crossing into the Central Asian region, which is a CSTO area of responsibility,” Samat said.
Kyrgyzstan keeps following developments in Afghanistan, including in light of the upcoming US troops withdrawal, the ambassador added.
Samat emphasized that Kyrgyzstan continues discussing Afghanistan with its partners in the CSTO, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, the Commonwealth of Independent States’ Anti-Terrorism Center, and other agencies.
