The Taliban say they do not want “any ties” with Israel

by

The Taliban military organization, which last month took control of Afghanistan, said its government wants “no ties” with Israel.

The group’s spokesman made the statement during a press conference on Tuesday after it announced a new government, which contains only men.

“Of course, we will not have relations with Israel. We want to have relations with other countries, Israel is not among those countries,” spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Russia’s Sputnik news agency.

Shaheen said the Taliban were even willing to cooperate with the United States after quickly overthrowing the 20-year-old Western-backed government last month, just as U.S. President Joe Biden was completing a retreat to end America’s longest war.

“Yes, of course, if the United States wants to have a relationship with us, which may be in the interest of both countries and the two peoples, and if they want to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, they are welcome,” he said. Shaheen.

The Taliban on Tuesday appointed an interim government that included several people wanted for terror crimes.

2 See the gallery

Taliban official Mula Muhammad Hassan Ahund, right, in an old 1999 photo shakes hands with then-Pakistani prime ministerTaliban official Mula Muhammad Hassan Ahund, right, in an old 1999 photo shakes hands with then-Pakistani prime minister

Then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received in Afghanistan in 1999 Afghan Foreign Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund (right)

(Photo: AFP)

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a veteran of the group on a UN sanctions list and served in the brutal 1996-2001 Islamist regime, was appointed acting prime minister.

Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani is wanted by the FBI for alleged involvement in a 2008 terrorist attack in Kabul that killed six people, including an American, and other alleged crimes.

Mujahid also said Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the deputy director. He previously held the position of head of the political office of his movement, overseeing the signing in 2020 of the US withdrawal agreement.

Mullah Yaqoob, son of Taliban founder and late Supreme Leader Mullah Omar, was appointed Minister of Defense, while the post of Interior Minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the dreaded Haqqani network who also doubled. as Taliban deputy director.

.Source