Taliban to form new cabinet as U.S evacuation nears end

The Taliban said are preparing a new cabinet as the U.S. evacuation nears its end and they expected that sharp currency falls and economic turmoil following their takeover of Kabul two weeks ago would subside.

The movement’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned as the U.S. military winds down its mission to evacuate U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans and withdraw troops from Kabul airport ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline.

He condemned an overnight U.S. drone strike against Islamic State militants following Thursday’s suicide attack near the airport as a clear attack on Afghan territory.

He appealed to the United States and other Western nations to maintain diplomatic relations after their withdrawal, which he expected would be completed very soon.

“The makeup of the new cabinet would be cleared in one or two weeks.”

However, in regards to a question about whether women would be included in the cabinet, “This would be a matter for the leadership to decide and he could not anticipate what their decision would be.”

There is mounting frustration in Kabul at the severe economic hardship caused by a plummeting currency and rising food prices, with banks still shuttered two weeks after the fall of the city to the Taliban.

On Saturday, a statement from the Taliban said that banks were ordered to reopen with a weekly limit on withdrawals of $200 or 20,000 afghanis.

Mujahid said officials had already been appointed to run key institutions including the ministries of public health and education and the central bank.

The economy, shattered after four decades of war, also faces the loss of billions of dollars in foreign aid, following the withdrawal of Western embassies from the country.

“The fall of Afghani against foreign currency is temporary and it is because of the situation that suddenly changed, it will come back to normal once the government system starts functioning,” Mujahid said.

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Kamila/Reuters