Taliban announces new acting Afghan government
Several acting cabinet ministers of a new caretaker government in Afghanistan led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund has been announced by the Taliban
The group’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid at a press conference on Tuesday said Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the deputy leader and Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of the founder of the Haqqani network, has been named as interior minister.
Meanwhile, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of Mullah Omar, has been named as defence minister. Hedayatullah Badri will be the acting Minister of Finance.
Mujahid reiterated the cabinet was an “acting” government and that the group will “try to take people from other parts of the country”.
The Taliban, who swept to power last month, had been expected to announce a government since the US-led evacuation was completed at the end of August.
They have promised an “inclusive” government that represents Afghanistan’s complex ethnic makeup – though women are unlikely to be included at the top levels.
It was not clear what role in the government would be played by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, who has not been seen or heard in public since the collapse of the Western-backed government and the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in August.
