The Taliban have said that the people fleeing Afghanistan are not "worried or scared" but instead want "prosperous lives" in Western countries.
Taliban spokesperson Dr. Suhail Shaheen made the revelation in an interview with Sky News about the group's plans for the country amid the withdrawal of American troops.
Dr. Shaheen insisted that those who are fleeing Afghanistan are economic migrants and not people who are frightened of living under Taliban rule.
He said: "I assure you it is not about being worried or scared.
"They want to reside in Western countries and that is a kind of economic migration because Afghanistan is a poor country and 70% of the people of Afghanistan live under the line of poverty so everyone wants to resettle in Western countries to have a prosperous life. It is not about [being] scared."
Watch Dr. Shaheen's interview with Sky News below:Despite some of the acts of desperation which have been reported since the militant group took over the country, Dr. Shaheen said that that reports of the group going door to door and targeting people are false.
"All fake news," he said. "I can assure you there are many reports by our opponents claiming what is not based on realities."
The Taliban spokesman also said that there will be consequences if the US does not complete its evacuation of Afghanistan by August 31.
"It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that," he said.
"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences. It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction."
In the wake of the Sky News interview with Dr. Shaheen, the US Department of Defence press secretary John Kirby said: "We have seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on 31 August, I think we all understand that view.
"The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible, and while we're glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, we're not going to rest on any laurels."