PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) has defended the Taliban, saying that they have changed.

       The PAS president said that the Taliban has among other things announced an amnesty for those who previously worked with the United States.

       “The Western and local media who are acting as their tools are focusing on the negative aspects of the group when they first emerged.

       “However, their latest step of negotiations with diplomats of the United States has shown their intelligence in facing the enemy. This is until they were able to take control of Kabul peacefully,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Aug 25).

       Hadi admitted that previously, they enforced their values on everyone, such as forcing men to keep a beard and not allowing females to go to school.

       He said that now, they took the approach of celebrating the differences in their society.

       Hadi also claimed that the disturbances at the airport in Kabul were caused by anxiety on the part of those who had worked with the United States previously, even though the Taliban had declared an amnesty.

       “Study valid Islamic references, and don’t be guided by the media that spreads false and ignorant news,” he said.

       The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on Aug 15, following the full withdrawal of US troops that had occupied the country since the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

       The Taliban is trying to consolidate power after seizing control of Afghanistan in just over a week and driving President Ashraf Ghani and most senior government officials into exile.