Read What The Taliban Told NPR About Their Plans For Afghanistan

The Taliban, which have taken over Kabul, the Afghan capital, say they have changed. They are promising amnesty for their enemies and to let people leave the country — a departure from the mass executions and repression when the armed group ruled most of Afghanistan in the 1990s.

Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban spokesman in Qatar, talks with NPR's Steve Inskeep about what he says is the group's commitments of safety to people in Kabul.

Steve Inskeep: What is your group's attitude toward the U.S. evacuation of U.S. citizens and those who supported them right now?

Suhail Shaheen: You mean why we are supporting?

No, I mean, does your group intend to allow American citizens and Afghans who wish to leave to leave peacefully?

Yes, on the basis of the Doha agreement, the Americans should leave peacefully and they withdraw from Afghanistan peacefully. So during their withdrawal from Afghanistan, we will not attack them. That was written in the Doha agreement. But as you see, the Americans violated that agreement. It was until the 1st of May that they should have withdrawn all their forces and then President Biden said that we will withdraw until Sept.11. But still, we restrained our forces not to attack American troops because they are withdrawing from our country. And so we expect them that they withdraw until Sept. 11. And if they continue to station, furthermore, in the country, that could be considered, of course, occupation, continuation of the occupation.

What kinds of contacts do your leaders have with the United States military or U.S. diplomats at this point?

You know, you may have seen reports that [U.S. special envoy] Dr. [Zalmay] Zhalizad, along with a delegation and other U.S. delegation, they come to Doha time and again. They have speak about peace and reconciliation and try