Taliban Defense Minister: Don't Do Anything That Makes Our People Call Us Crazy

Taliban Defense Minister Yequb Mujahid urged leaving a 'white and pride-worthy history,' not one written in black or red, during a speech primarily to Taliban cabinet members.

Mujahid said those who used any means to gain power and dissatisfied the people are now in graveyards. He emphasized appreciating current 'security and calm,' warning that without awareness, it might seem Afghanistan was always in war and chaos. He called for setting aside all differences to avoid past problems, occupations, civil wars, and anarchy, and stressed not dwelling on past dependencies of individuals or previous regimes or harboring a spirit of revenge.

The minister stated there should be no ethnic or linguistic bias in the Taliban system and urged broadening perspectives beyond personal, tribal, regional, or national limits to avoid pursuing only money, power, and individual desires.

Mujahid called on all Afghans to cooperate with Taliban forces in providing security and stand with them to prevent bloodshed. Without naming specific countries, he said some nations see Afghanistan's instability as beneficial to their power.

He assured regional and global countries that Afghanistan poses no threat and the Taliban administration has no bad intentions against any country. Mujahid said the Taliban seeks political and economic relations based on mutual respect, rejecting 'slavery and accepting others' commands,' and positioning itself independently within the framework of religion and national interests.

The context of Mujahid's concerns about history's judgment remains unclear, amid widespread domestic and international criticism of Hibatullah Akhundzada's governance rules, described by some as akin to 'medieval laws.'