The insurgents' manifesto, outlined in Moscow before some of Afghanistan's most influential leaders, comes a week after the Taliban held unprecedented six-day talks with USA negotiators in Doha about ending the 17-year war.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, centre, speaks to USA peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, third left, at the presidential palace in Kabul.
The two-day meeting brings key Afghan power brokers together with the insurgents to discuss ending the war that began with the ouster of the Taliban from power in late 2001 and follows up on an earlier such meeting in Moscow in November. The talks, however, have sidelined Ghani and his government.
Lead Taliban negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai told reporters that the movement did not want to rule alone but as part of "an intra Afghan Islamic system of governance.in consultation with all Afghans".
Women - and many men too - are frightened about the possible terms of an agreement and very aware that they would essentially be unenforceable once U.S. troops were out of the country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was also not invited to the table in Doha.
The attacks were reported as representatives of the Taliban were to hold meetings in Moscow with prominent Afghan figures, including former President Hamid Karzai, opposition leaders and tribal elders _ but not Kabul government officials.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration had accelerated negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan with groups including the Taliban, and, as they make progress, would be able to reduce the USA troop presence there. Votel also said the United States would need to continue to support Afghan security forces financially even if USA troops withdrew. For years the refusal of the United States to meet with Taliban officials has prevented any negotiation. Now the exact timetable for the pullout must be decided, but the Taliban wants to see this happen in months, he said. Two women also attended the roundtable conference. It's a change I think.
Fawzia Kofi, a women's rights activist, underlined that Afghans would not go back to the past from the realities of modern Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Taliban attacks have continued in Afghanistan. It could include representatives of the current Afghan government, alongside others, to "select or elect a future government".
The two-day gathering is separate from the US-Taliban negotiations in Doha in January, that ended with both sides touting "progress" and a draft framework which could pave the way for peace talks.
The attack occurred on the outskirts of Kunduz City and set off a firefight between militants and security forces that lasted from 2 a.m.to 4 a.m. local time, according to Pajhwok Afghan News, citing Deputy Chairman of Provincial Council Safiullah Amiri.
In the Russian capital, in scenes unthinkable under their regime, the Taliban sat and listened as women defended their hard-earned freedoms in a modern Afghanistan.
"It is Russian Federation against the U.S. all over again, but the other way around", Fakur said, in reference to Washington's support former Mujahidin fighters against the former Soviet Union-backed government in the 1990s.
The insurgents also raided a police post overnight in neighboring Baghlan province, killing at least 10 security troops, Afghan media quoted unnamed security officials as confirming. "Casualties were inflicted on the security forces before the reinforcement arrived", he said. As the area is very remote, the villagers have their own militia to defend their homes from the insurgents.
