The Taliban has revealed the first-ever supercar designed and built in Afghanistan.
The prototype sports car, called 'Mada 9', has been built by 30 engineers from the brand ENTOP and Kabul's Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute (ATVI). Footage of the vehicle appeared on social media but it was mainly stationary, and therefore its road capabilities are still largely unknown.
Another clip showed it rolling down the road at a slow speed, the Daily Mirror reports.
The team behind the car says it features an engine from a Toyota Corolla - a rather tame family hatchback - but insist that it has been tuned to increase the power.
The Head of ATVI Ghulam Haidar Shahamat told local news the engine had been modified so if "you increase the speed, it's powerful enough to take it". He added that the company plans to install an electric powertrain in the car at a later date.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted pictures of the car on his Twitter account, calling its construction an honour for the country. He said: "I would like to thank the Department of Vocational Education, under their umbrella, the country has been provided with valuable services."
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, Taliban minister for Higher Education, added to the official support for the car during its unveiling. He extolled the scientific values of the Afghan people, and took the glory - claiming the militia-turned-government was committed to providing "religious and modern sciences for its people".
ENTOP CEO Mohammad Riza Ahmadi told TOLO News that he hoped the supercar would help boost Afghanistan's image on the world stage. "It will start its journey in Afghanistan and will one day maybe go international," he said.
In a New Year's Eve tweet, Ahmadi added: "I thank God very much that I was able to finish the construction of Afghanistan's first car. I would like to thank the great national businessmen and the dear people of Afghanistan who stood by my side during this time."
The Taliban continues to face fierce criticism from the international community for its treatment of women. The group recently banned all women from playing sports, attending school and university or working for NGOs.
In response to the ban on attending university, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said:
"The UK strongly condemns the Taliban’s decision to close universities for women across Afghanistan. This restriction represents a further violation of the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls and has no religious or moral basis. Afghan women and girls must have a say in their own future and be able to fully and equally contribute to society."
Lord Ahman urged the Taliban "to reverse their decisions on education".
The country also faces a worsening security situation. On Wednesday, an explosion near the foreign ministry in Kabul killed five people and wounded several others - the second prominent attack in the Afghan capital so far in 2023.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the regional affiliate of the so-called Islamic State group (IS)— known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — has increased its assaults since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
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