TEHRAN, YJC. Taliban Speaker Zabihollah Mojahid has spoken about the their group and what they plan to do in the future.
Mojahid in interview by ISNA has said that the group has had a lot of casualties in the last few years and that now that international army forces have quit the country they demand an "Islamic government.”
In answer to the question whether Taliban will lay down arms when foreign forces have withdrawn, Mojahid said "The issue of Afghanistan is not the same as its occupation by foreign forces, although the occupation is more important and it must end. The occupying forces must leave the country as soon as possible. Then our stand regarding the Afghan will be clarified and we will be in contact with the Afghan government.”
Replying to the question as to their conditions for presence in the government and national reconciliation, Taliban Speaker said "Right now we don’t have any plan on that. Now our concern is the US, because our country is under occupation and it is our duty to end the occupation.”
As to whether the group holds ties with Pakistan and its intelligence services he said "This is part of the foreign propaganda and we strongly deny it.”
Mojahid also provided comments on Taliban’s relation with al-Qaeda and said "In the past the al-Qaeda was in Afghanistan and had much cooperation with Taliban. As human beings we never forget their beneficence. At the time when Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Unions al-Qaeda was a great help to us, therefore we had to protect them till they returned to their homelands.”