Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia hit out at the United Nations Friday, accusing it of "maligning" the radical Islamic regime at the behest of powerful countries.
"We call on the UN to portray the realities existing in Afghanistan rather than caving in to the political demands of certain circles," the Taliban embassy here said in a statement.
Citing accusations of religious extremism, it said some UN reports "are written at the behest of certain political circles and countries ... bent on maligning the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan."
"Unfortunately the UN closes its eyes to the fact that prior to the emergence of the Islamic Emirate nobody's life, property and honor was safe in Afghanistan."
The Taliban sprouted from religious schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 1994 and launched a crusade against mujahideen groups fighting each other after the fall of the pro-communist regime in Kabul in 1992.
They captured Kabul in 1996 and now control 90 percent of Afghanistan.
The Taliban regime has been recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The UN and most countries still recognize the government of ousted president Burhanuddin Rabbani -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
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