Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, said in an undated audio recording obtained by the media that neighboring countries should not feel afraid and that Afghanistan has no ill intentions toward anyone.
He emphasized that countries seeking dialogue with Afghanistan can enter negotiations “without any hesitation.”
Referring to the group’s independence in decision-making, the Taliban leader said that Afghanistan seeks “peaceful coexistence, reconciliation, and security,” and that the Taliban government “does not act on the orders of others” and is “independent and in control of its own decisions.”
These remarks come amid a recent increase in verbal tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of supporting the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and terrorism in Pakistan.