The Taliban have encouraged women to return to work and have allowed girls to return to school, handing out Islamic headscarves. A female news anchor interviewed a Taliban official on Monday in a TV studio.

"We have pardoned everybody for the benefit of stability or peace in Afghanistan," Mujahid said. He also called on Afghans not to leave the country.

Mujahid reiterated that the Taliban has offered a full amnesty to Afghans who worked for the United States and the Western-backed government, saying that "nobody will go to their doors to ask why they helped".

"We would like to assure the international community that there will be no discrimination."

China hopes that the various factions in Afghanistan will resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, avoid new wars and humanitarian disasters, and promote a smooth transition in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.