The leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, has again reproached the international community for not recognizing the Afghan authorities established by the Islamist movement five years ago, emphasizing that, unlike previous governments, the current Executive is "sovereign and decisive" over the entirety of the country's territory.
During the events for the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's entry into Kandahar, Afghanistan's second city and the historical stronghold of the group, Akhundzada reiterated his commitment to the implementation of justice and the norms of 'sharia'. He stressed that he is not allowed to "go against" Islamic law and that he will act in accordance with it.
The head of the Islamic Emirate has assured that Kabul aims to maintain constructive relations with the rest of the world, always within the framework of Islamic sharia, and has criticized the international community for continuing not to recognize the current Government, according to the Afghan network Tolo.
"The previous government had no authority over a single district. But it did not recognize the formality of the Government of the Islamic Emirate over all of Afghanistan," he pointed out, insisting that, unlike the previous Executive, the current authorities are "sovereign and decisive" throughout the country.
The fundamentalist Taliban regime celebrated this weekend the fifth anniversary of its return to power with a message in favor of "peace and tranquility" in its relations with the international community, reiterating at the same time that it will not accept external interference in its way of administering Afghanistan, where its strict interpretation of sharia prevails.
Akhundzada is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity related to gender-based persecution and, since the fall of Kabul, has remained practically confined in Kandahar.