Taliban Holds First Presser Following Afghan Takeover

Ragip Soylu at Middle East Eye tweets comments from the first Taliban press conference since its takeover of Afghanistan over the weekend:

• "We assure the world, especially the United States, that Afghan lands will not be used against others...The Afghan people have the right to have their own law and the world must respect our values...Taliban won't allow any party in Afghanistan to harm the Islamic values..."
• "The Islamic Emirate pledges to grant women the full rights granted to them by Sharia and law...All our sisters, all our women are secure. Our God, our Quran, says women are a very important part of our society...[if Afghan women] continue to live according to Sharia, we will be happy, they will be happy".
• "I assure that we will remain in contact with the media that will operate freely....We will not accept any media practices in our country against Islam and Muslims...We will establish a comprehensive Islamic regime. We will build labor departments and the basic system of our country, and a decision will be made on the nature of the country's flag later..."
• "I assure the world that Afghanistan will not be a center for the production of any kind of drug...We must leave the opportunity for politicians to determine the form of government and establish a system that meets the wishes of the Afghans and applies Islamic law. Everything will be clearer once the formation of the government completed"