Taliban fighters at a Kabul checkpoint (Reuters)

According to a Taliban official, the Taliban movement will be held accountable for its acts and will investigate accusations of reprisal and war crimes committed by members of the movement.

The official, who requested anonymity, added that the movement intends to create a new model for governing Afghanistan in the coming weeks. He stated that the new framework for governing the country would not be democratic in the Western sense, but that it will uphold and safeguard rights.

He stressed that Taliban legal, religious, and foreign policy specialists hope to implement a new governance model in the coming weeks.

When it came to addressing atrocities and crimes against civilians, a Taliban official stated that he was informed of such occurrences and that if it was discovered that such acts, related to law and order, were committed by Taliban members, they would be investigated.

He went on to say that they understand the state of panic, tension, and anxiety, and that people believe that they will not be held accountable, but that that is not the case.

المسئول العام للمطارات في #أفغانستان، الملا (حميد الله آخند) قام يوم أمس بزيارة مطار #قندهار، وخلال زيارته التقى بالمهندسين، والطيارين، وطاقم المطار، وإلى جانب التوجيهات وعدهم بالدعم الكامل، وطلب من الجميع أن يعودوا إلى وظائفهم، حتى تستأنف الرحلات المدنية في أسرع وقت ممكن.
— الإمارة الإسلامية (@alemara_ar) August 20, 2021

Only a week has passed since the Taliban completed its swift control of the country, entering Kabul last Sunday without firing a single shot.

Since then, Afghan citizens and international aid groups have reported harsh reprisals against the protests, as well as the arrests of those who previously held government positions, criticized the Taliban, or worked with Americans.

Although the Taliban have sought to present a more moderate form since its swift takeover of power last week, its iron-fisted rule of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 is still etched in the minds of society.