Now the Taliban are back in power, they have sought to project an air of restraint and moderation, including by on Tuesday announcing a “general amnesty” for government workers.

“Those working in any part or department of the government should resume their duties with full satisfaction and continue their duties without any fear,” a Taliban statement said.Some shops also reopened as traffic police were back on the streets, while Taliban officials planned a first diplomatic meeting — with the Russian ambassador.A Taliban official also gave an interview to a female journalist on an Afghan news channel, and a girls’ school reopened in the western city of Herat.Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the Taliban had sent a “positive signal” by showing a “readiness to respect the opinion of others”.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also blamed Afghan leaders for the “tragedy”.”Ultimately, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and to achieve the peaceful solution that Afghans desperately wanted,” he said.China also continued its verbal barrage against the United States over the situation in Afghanistan.”(Washington) left an awful mess of unrest, division and broken families,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.