Suspense over the formation of a new government in Afghanistan has finally come to an end. On Tuesday evening, chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that the new government and it would be an interim one.
Taliban veteran Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund would serve as its new acting Prime Minister. He had served as deputy foreign minister under the Taliban’s old regime and is on a UN blacklist.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the top leader of the political wing, has been made the Deputy Prime Minister. To this end, an interim cabinet with a total of 33 members was formed. Key positions have been held by top Taliban leaders who have been active in the fight against US and NATO forces for the past two decades.
The Taliban ignored suggestions given by the international community to allow non-Taliban leaders to be a part of the government. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the Haqqani Network militant group, has held a key position in the new government. However, women have no place in it.
Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named Defence Minister. “The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting. We will try to take people from other parts of the country,” Mujahid said.