In front of the camera, the Taliban are conciliatory, speak of amnesty and women’s rights, and seem to seek dialogue with the West. That image is part of their strategy – sold by senior speakers. But who are the Taliban’s mouthpieces?
Opponents are murdered, journalists persecuted, women oppressed – that is the reality in the new, old Afghanistan. The Taliban paint a completely different picture in relation to the global public: amnesty for opposition members and critics, press meetings, respect for Afghan women.
Because the Taliban’s campaign is not over with the invasion and takeover of power in Kabul. Fighting is not only done with weapons, but also with words. Mainly responsible for this illusion of moderate is a man named Sabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban. At a first press conference in front of international journalists, he exuded calm and adopted a calming tone. But mujahid is not the only wheel in the Islamists’ PR machinery.
Taliban spokesman Mujahid: A mystery is given a face
For a long time, the mujahid was one thing above all else: a mystery. When the 43-year-old stepped in front of the international cameras on August 17, it was the first time for many journalists that they had seen his face, according to a report by the BBC. For years he had operated in secret, only the voice was on the other end of the phone line. There have even been speculations that “the voice of the Taliban” is not just one but many people, that his name and identity are a hodgepodge of different functionaries.
The BBC journalist Yalda Hakim was “shocked” when she finally saw Mujahid in person. However, she was also surprised by his conciliatory tone – which was in stark contrast to his earlier statements. At the time she thought: “This guy is thirsty for the blood of the Americans, for the blood of the Afghan government.”
By the way, mujahid sat in the square that until recently belonged to Dawa Khan Menapal, director of the Afghan media and information center, the BBC said. Menapal was shot dead by Taliban fighters earlier this month. His “successor” Mujahid officially admitted to his murder at the time.
First interview after taking power
Mujahid gave his first interview with a Western medium after the seizure of power in the “New York Times”. The tone: reassuring again, almost inviting. According to the “New York Times”, he claimed that the past is the past, it is now about the future of the country. He again firmly rejected the fact that women had to fear oppression. The day before, the mujahid had urged all Afghan women not to leave their homes until the Taliban fighters had been trained not to abuse them. In addition, contrary to what has been reported, women do not need a guardian if they move in public – at least not if the trip takes less than three days, he told the “New York Times”.
Former local aid workers in the US armed forces do not have to fear retaliation either. The West should refrain from its evacuation plans – doctors, professors and other people would be needed in their own country. “In America they might become dishwasher or cooks. That is inhuman,” said the Taliban spokesman.
According to the New York Times, mujahid is the most promising candidate for the post of information and culture minister. The 43-year-old speaks the main languages Pashto and Dari fluently and is a graduate of Islamic law at the well-known Darul Uloom Haqqania Madrasa in Pakistan.
But the mujahid is not the only mouthpiece. Because hardly anyone is selling the new regime as skilfully as Abdul Qahar Balkhi. The member of the Taliban’s so-called Culture Commission acted as the mujahid’s interpreter at the first press conference. He does not yet have an official title because the regime is still in the process of finding out, as the Arab news channel Al Jazeera reported.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Balkhi actually says the same thing as Mujahid – but in view of his serenity, he seemed far less threatening, much more informal. In perfect, almost accent-free English, he adopted an understanding tone. The invasion of Kabul was not originally planned. After finding a “political solution”, they even wanted to form an “inclusive government”. However, because the Afghan security forces had left their posts, the Taliban were forced to take over.
When asked about the reports of targeted killings, Balkhi has an appropriate answer: The new government is not about enforcing laws in the population. Rather, the Taliban leadership wants to take care of discipline in its own ranks first, “in order to then serve as an example for the rest of society,” he claimed in an interview.
Taliban’s governance structure remains a secret
The Taliban spokesmen, who previously operated from the shadows, have shown their faces since they came to power. Nevertheless, with a few exceptions, the leadership structure of the Islamists remains a secret. The US news broadcaster CNN, which has tried its hand at an organizational chart of the Taliban leadership, concludes that the new government will likely be composed of hardliners again in the end.
Not in spite of, but precisely because of this, the new regime will continue to seek dialogue with the West in the future. Because the Taliban need time, money and calm to establish their system. Speakers like Mujahid and Balkhi play a crucial role in this, because: “That is the problem with the Taliban – they are deceptive, they are charming, they know how to use the right language, but you are never quite sure whether you should believe them or not, “said the BBC journalist Yalda Hakim.
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