In one of his first public statements, new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada said once foreigners end their “occupation” of Afghanistan, the country can be unified.
“Your support and siding with invaders is like the work of those abhorrent faces who in our past history supported the Britons and the Soviets,” he said in a message to the government in Kabul, according to a report. Akhundzada became leader of the Taliban in May, after a U.S. drone strike killed Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour.
In the message, he told Kabul that “the doors of forgiveness and tolerance are open” if they end their alliance with the U.S. and NATO.
“Our clear message is that we do not want a monopoly of power. All Afghan tribes and races need each other.”
Late next week, NATO leaders will meet in Warsaw for a summit to discuss, among other things, the alliance’s contribution to the coalition aiding Afghan government forces.
