Afghan Taliban hold clerics’ assembly, aiming to boost rule
By RAHIM FAIEZ
49 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers held a gathering Thursday of some 3,000 Islamic clerics and tribal elders for the first time since seizing power in August, urging those at the meeting to advise them on running the country. Women were not allowed to attend.
The Taliban, who have kept a complete lock on decision-making since taking over the country, touted the gathering in the capital of Kabul as a forum to hear a range of voices on issues facing Afghanistan.
But all those who addressed the assembly — and, it appeared, the overwhelming majority of attendees — were Taliban officials and supporters, mostly Islamic clerics.
The United States and most of the international community have shunned the Taliban government, demanding it be more inclusive and respect women’s rights.
However, the conference seemed less a nod to that pressure than an attempt by the Taliban to bolster their legitimacy as rulers, at a time when the former insurgents are struggling to deal with Afghanistan’s humanitarian catastrophe and are cut off from international financing.
(emphasis mine)
https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-religion-kabul-taliban-zabihullah-mujahid-1869a520c7b67b654837cfe4f6baca4e