Edge's News: Afghanistan: Taliban vow to honour women's rights but within Islamic law..

The Taliban vowed Tuesday to respect women's rights, forgive those who resisted them and ensure a secure Afghanistan as part of a publicity blitz aimed at convincing world powers and a fearful population that they have changed.

Zabihullah Mujahid

Following a lightning offensive across Afghanistan that saw many cities fall to the insurgents without a fight, the Taliban have sought to portray themselves as more moderate than when they imposed a brutal rule in the late 1990s. 

But many Afghans remain skeptical - and thousands raced to the airport on Monday, desperate to flee the country. 

Older generations remember the Taliban's ultra conservative Islamic views, which included severe restrictions on women as well as public stonings and amputations before they were ousted by the US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. As others have in recent days, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid addressed these concerns head on in his first news conference Tuesday. 

Mujahid, who had been a shadowy figure for years, promised the Taliban would honour women's rights, but within the norms of Islamic law, though he gave few details. He said the group wanted private media to "remain independent," but stressed journalists "should not work against national values." And he promised the insurgents would secure Afghanistan - but seek no revenge against those who worked with the former government or with foreign governments or forces. "We assure you that nobody will go to their doors to ask why they helped," he said.

The press conference was held three days after the Taliban took over the presidential palace in Kabul as President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, reportedly to neighbouring Tajikistan.

The fall of Kabul was followed by a swift takeover by the Taliban since their clashes with the Afghan forces escalated as foreign troops prepare to withdraw from the country by the end of August. Several countries, have evacuated their citizens from Afghanistan amid a scramble to leave the country hit by political crisis.

On Tuesday too, the Taliban did not provide details on the form of governance in Afghanistan under them. Mujahid, however, said that they would soon reach a “settlement” through which an Islamic government will be established in the country.

Meanwhile, Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh claimed that in Ghani’s absence he was the “legitimate care taker president” of the country according to the Constitution.