At a gathering of religious clerics in Kabul, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said that, according to decisions and fatwas issued by the assembly, Afghans must not engage in military activity outside Afghanistan.
Muttaqi said the Taliban has the authority to take action against Afghans who disobey this order, based on the assembly’s recommendations.
Speaking on Wednesday at the clerics’ conference, he said the gathering had offered “the best recommendations” to the Afghan people and the Taliban administration. He added that under the assembly’s ruling, anyone who “from near or far” commits aggression against the Taliban would make “jihad against them” obligatory for the people.
The Taliban foreign minister said leaders and elders of the administration have pledged that Afghan soil will not be used to harm any country. He said the clerics’ assembly also emphasised this point, stating that obeying it is necessary for everyone.
Muttaqi stressed that, under the assembly’s decisions, safeguarding the system is not solely the duty of officials and security institutions but “an obligation for Muslims” to protect the Taliban administration. He said clerics have always advised leaders to maintain unity among themselves and to shield the system from internal divisions.
Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, previously said the clerics’ meeting and its decisions are not enough; Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, must provide Pakistan with a written assurance. He added that Islamabad has not yet received the resolution from the assembly.
Andrabi said that while the gathering could be a positive step in counterterrorism efforts, Pakistan wants a written guarantee from both the Taliban administration and Mullah Hibatullah.
Rahmatullah Najib, head of the Taliban negotiation team, said on 12 November that during the Istanbul talks, the Pakistani delegation demanded a fatwa from Hibatullah against fighting in Pakistan. According to him, the Taliban delegation responded that Hibatullah does not issue fatwas. Pakistan must submit its request to the Darul-Ifta and should not expect fatwas to be issued according to its wishes.
