Kabul : Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is on the way to Afghanistan and is likely to form a new government, after the militia entered Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday, news reports said.
According to Al Arabiya, Baradar, who was in Doha for the peace talks, is flying to Kabul.
The Taliban have called for a ‘peaceful surrender’ of power, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is to step down.
Earlier, as the militants entered Kabul, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said: “The Mujahidden of the Islamic Emirate has no intention of entering Kabul by force or war, but is holding talks with the other side for a peaceful entrance to Kabul.”
He assured Afghans that “life, honour and property of people will be protected”, before ordering the Taliban to “remain at the gates of Kabul and avoid revenge”.
Acting Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakawal, in a video message, confirmed talks on formation of a transitional government.
“The people of Kabul should not worry, the city is secure. Whoever causes disorder will be dealt with decisively.”
“The security of the city is guaranteed, the city will not be attacked…. and the deal is to transfer power peacefully to the leadership of a transitional administration inshallah… Kabul is safe, be assured,” he said in a recorded speech.
On Saturday, the last pockets of resistance in the major city of Mazar-i-Sharif fell to the Taliban overnight. On Sunday, the militia seized the key city of Jalalabad in the east and the adjacent areas of Laghman and Maidan Wardak, some 20 km to the west of Kabul.
With the latest victories, the Taliban now control all key border crossings with neighboring countries. Besides Kabul, they have seized all major cities and several airports in Afghanistan.
