Taliban leader makes unusual visit to Kabul to meet with local governors

May 17. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The leader of the Taliban, Mullah Hebatullah Ajundzada, made an unusual visit to the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, on Thursday to meet with the governors of the 34 Afghan provinces as part of a seminar focused on religion.

The Taliban portal Al Emará published this Friday a speech by Ajundzada in which he stated that “the implementation of sharia and Islamic principles must take priority over personal interests.” “The role of the emirate is to bring people together,” he said.

Ajundzada, who lives in Kandahar, already made a public appearance last April to lead the Eid al Fitr prayers, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan, at a mosque in the province of Kandahar, located in the south of Afghanistan.

The Taliban leader then referred to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and stressed that “the problem of Palestine is the problem of the entire Muslim community.” “I call on the Islamic world to stop the oppression of Israeli aggression as soon as possible,” he said.

Ajundzada also highlighted that the month of Ramadan passed in Afghanistan “in an atmosphere of peace”, after “many decades of conflict, poverty and difficulties.” “We want good diplomatic and economic relations with everyone,” he added.

The Taliban imposed shortly after their return to power in August 2021 – after the flight from the capital, Kabul, of the then president, Ashraf Ghani, in the midst of the withdrawal of international troops – a battery of restrictions on public life, with the main focus on women and girls, including the prohibition of their schooling.