The Taliban is “cooperating” with British forces as they work to evacuate people from Afghanistan and is not behaving in a “medieval way”, the chief of the UK defence staff has said.

General Sir Nick Carter told Sky News: “We are cooperating with the Taliban on the ground and that seems to be a very straightforward relationship.

“They are keeping the streets of Kabul very safe and indeed very calm. They are helping us at the airport.”

He said the militants are “keeping the streets calm, they are avoiding public disorder” – and added: “What we’re not getting are reports of them behaving in a medieval way like you might have seen in the past.”

Sir Nick suggested the Islamist movement, which has taken power in Afghanistan, could be more moderate than when it was last in control in the 1990s.

He said he does not think the Taliban “want to become international pariahs again”, adding: “I do think that they have changed.”

It comes as the group claimed it is not seeking revenge after regaining control of the country after being ousted two decades ago.

Speaking from the Afghan presidential palace on Tuesday, Zabihullah Mujahid referred to Afghanistan as the “Islamic Emirate” and said the group is committed to the rights of women within the framework of Sharia, or Islamic law.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News that “thousands” of schools continue to operate following the Taliban takeover and claimed women will have the right to work and be educated up to university level.