Taliban congratulates Syrians after Assad fall: Removal of factor of conflict

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has congratulated the people of Syria and Islamist rebels for overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which marked the end of more than 24 years of his autocratic rule, as well as the nearly 14-year-old civil war.

In a statement on Sunday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the collapse of the Syrian government resulted in the “removal of the factor of conflict and instability”.

Assad’s ouster was spearheaded by Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al Qaeda affiliate which is still designated as a terrorist group by the US, Turkey and the UN.

“It is hoped that the process of power transition will advance in a manner that lays the foundations of a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people, that unifies the entire population without discrimination and retribution,” the statement said.

The Taliban also called for the adoption of a “positive foreign policy” with other nations that will safeguard Syria from the “threat of negative rivalries of foreign actors and create conditions for the return of millions of refugees”.

It further urged all foreign actors involved in Syria to engage and cooperate for the security and stability of the nation.

The HTS had commenced its blitzkrieg two weeks ago, capturing the key cities of Aleppo, Homs, Hama before proceeding to Damascus unopposed and seizing control of the Syrian capital on Sunday.

Government forces loyal to the deposed President were forced to retreat as rebels captured control of key cities one by one, in a move that challenged the Assad family’s autocratic rule that lasted for more than 50 years.

After the capture of Damascus, thousands of Syrians took to the streets of the capital city echoing with celebratory gunfire and waves revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into the civil war.

After initial suspense of Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts, Russian state media reported that the ousted President and his family arrived in Moscow, with their long-time ally granting them asylum.

However, there has been no official confirmation from Russia on granting asylum to Assad.

(Inouts from AP, Reuters)