Taliban conducting charm offensive according to former Longford aid worker

The Taliban is urging women to join the Government and has declared an 'amnesty' in Afghanistan.

The militant group claims it's changed since it last controlled the country 20 years ago, when it used public executions and forced amputations to enforce Islamic law.

It insists no one will be harmed and has urged people to return to work.

Longford man Tiernan Dolan says he doesn't believe any of the so-called reassurances from the Taliban about how people will be treated.

He travelled to Afghanistan in 2002 to work with GOAL in Mazar-Shariff after the Taliban were ousted from power and says the Taliban are simply playing to the western media who are there at present:

Listen to the full interview with Tiernan here