Taliban announces new government in Afghanistan
The Taliban has appointed Mohammad Hasan Akhund, as head of Afghanistan’s new caretaker government, weeks after it took control of the country.
The list of cabinet members announced by chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, was dominated by members of the group’s old guard, with no women included.
The head of the Taliban’s political office, Abdul Ghani Baradar, will be the deputy leader while Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of the founder of the Haqqani Network, has been named as interior minister.
Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of Mullah Omar, has been named as defence minister. Hedayatullah Badri will be the acting minister of finance, while Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha, was named foreign minister.
According to Mujahid, the remaining posts will be announced after careful deliberation, “The Islamic Emirate decided to appoint and announce a caretaker cabinet to carry out the necessary government works.
“The cabinet was an acting government and that the group will try to take people from other parts of the country,” he stressed.
Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, said the new government will work towards upholding sharia law in Afghanistan.
“I assure all the countrymen that the figures will work hard towards upholding Islamic rules and sharia law in the country.
“The new leadership would ensure lasting peace, prosperity and development, people should not try to leave the country.
“The Islamic Emirate has no problem with anyone.
“All will take part in strengthening the system and Afghanistan and in this way, we will rebuild our war-torn country,” Akhunzada said.
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Kamila/Al-Jazeera
