Image source,Supplied
The new government will be led by Mohamed Hassan Ahund.
The Taliban announced on Tuesday (September 7) the establishment of an interim government in Afghanistan, and announced the change of Afghanistan’s national name from Republic to “Islamic Emirate.”
The all-male new cabinet is made up of high-ranking Taliban figures, some of whom have been infamous for attacking foreign troops in the past 20 years.
The new government will be led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund. He is one of the founders of the Taliban and was blacklisted by the United Nations.
The Secretary of the Interior is Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the armed group Haqqani wanted by the FBI. The organization is a faction affiliated to the Taliban, and it has made many attacks that are daunting.
The Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan more than three weeks ago and overthrew the elected President Ashraf Ghani.
The announcement of the interim cabinet is a crucial step in forming a permanent Taliban government, but the new leader will face major challenges, especially how to stabilize the country’s economy and gain international recognition for the regime.
The Taliban have previously stated that they hope to form an inclusive government. However, all cabinet ministers announced on Tuesday (September 7) are Taliban leaders, and there are no women among them.
The situation in Afghanistan: the Taliban occupy the opposition’s last stronghold in the Panjshir Valley and raise the Taliban flag
International response
After the Taliban announced the candidates for the interim government, the United States expressed concern about this.
The U.S. State Department stated in a statement on Tuesday (September 7): “We note that the announced list only includes Taliban members or their close partners, and no women.”
“We are also concerned about the affiliation and past records of some of them,” the statement said. The United States will “judge them based on the Taliban’s actions rather than words.”
The statement said that Washington will “continue to demand that the Taliban fulfill their commitments” and allow foreign citizens and Afghans with travel documents to enter and exit safely. “We also reiterate that we clearly expect the Taliban to ensure that Afghan territory will not be used to threaten any other country,” the statement added.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday (September 8) that China had “imported” the establishment of an interim government by the Taliban.
Image source,EPA
Some demonstrators in Kabul took to the streets to protest against the rule of the Taliban.
“This puts an end to Afghanistan’s more than three weeks of’anarchy’ and is a necessary step for Afghanistan’s restoration of domestic order and post-war reconstruction,” said Wang Wenbin.
He reiterated that China hopes that Afghanistan can “build a broad and inclusive political structure, pursue a moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy, and resolutely combat various terrorist forces.”
In response to questions about the new Taliban government, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that the UN does not participate in the recognition of the government.
“This is a matter for the member states, not ours. Regarding today’s statement, from our standpoint, only negotiations and an inclusive solution can bring lasting peace to Afghanistan.”
Require the implementation of Sharia law
The supreme leader of the Taliban, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, issued a statement asking the government to uphold Islamic Sharia law.
In this statement in English, the Taliban expressed their hope to “establish strong and healthy relations with our neighbors and all other countries on the basis of mutual respect and interaction.” But the Taliban also emphasized that they will respect international laws and treaties that “do not conflict with Islamic law and the country’s values.”
Ahuenzada never appeared in public. This is his first message since the Taliban took control last month.
The Taliban spokesperson announced the appointment at a press conference.
The new interim prime minister Hassan Ahund served as deputy foreign minister during the Taliban’s first rule (1996-2001). His influence in the Taliban lies in religion, not military.
His appointment was seen as a compromise. Earlier, there were reports of infighting between some relatively moderate people in the Taliban and their hardline colleagues.
Secretary of the Interior on the US Terrorist List
Sirajuddin Haqqani, acting as the Minister of the Interior, is the leader of a radical organization known as the “Haqqani network.” The organization is affiliated with the Taliban and participated in some of the deadliest attacks in the past 20 years of war, including a truck bomb explosion in Kabul in 2017, which killed more than 150 people.
The Taliban is not on the list of terrorist organizations in the United States, but the “Haqqani Network” is not. It has been designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization, and it also maintains close ties with al-Qaeda.
According to the FBI’s information on Sirajdine Haqqani, he was “wanted for questioning in connection with the attack on a hotel in Kabul in January 2008.” The attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of six people, including one from the United States. citizen.
The data also stated, “It is believed that he coordinated and participated in a cross-border attack against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Haqqani was also charged with participating in the 2008 attempt to assassinate Afghan (former) President Hamid Karzai. plan.”
On September 12, 2011, the “Haqqani Network” was also accused of attacking the US Embassy in Kabul and the nearby NATO base. Eight people were killed in the attack, including four policemen and four civilians.
An organization that has been operating in secret for a long time, even its name will only appear on the watch list of world terrorists, and it has now announced the names that governments around the world call them.
Acting Prime Minister Hassan Ahond seems to be an eclectic candidate. Earlier, there were reports that there was competition between the main military and political figures who were about to serve under him.
The nature of its caretaker government also provides breathing space for the Taliban to move from guns to power.
This also emphasizes the Taliban’s view that the victory of the Taliban only means the rule of the Taliban. Sources said that they opposed the call for an “inclusive” government and did not want to include former politicians and officials. Because they have had the opportunity to reach the top, especially those who are corrupt.
“Other countries do their own things, but why should we let other countries choose our cabinet?” the organization retorted.
As for women, they have never had the opportunity to hold ministerial positions. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs seems to have been completely abolished.
Other appointments by the new government
- Mullah Yaqoob serves as the acting secretary of defense. He is the son of Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban and the late supreme leader. He made his debut in 2015. At that time, in an audio released after his father’s death, he called for unity within the armed group.
- Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar) will be one of the deputy prime ministers. Baradhar was the director of the Taliban political office and oversaw the signing of the U.S. withdrawal agreement last year.
- Amir Khan Muttaki is acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a senior leader who participated in the troop withdrawal negotiations with the United States.
When asked why no women were appointed, a senior Taliban told the BBC that the cabinet has not yet been finalized.
On the day the government announced the news, Taliban militants opened fire on a group of protesters in Kabul. At that time, protesters, mainly women, were gathering in the streets to oppose the Taliban’s rule and demand women’s rights.
The live video showed people running to safety, with warning shots from militants in the background.
The Taliban now claim complete control of Afghanistan, stating that they have defeated the resistance forces in the Panjshir Valley in northern Kabul.
The Afghan National Resistance Front (NRF) said in a statement that it “deems that the Taliban’s declaration of guarding the cabinet is illegal and a clear sign that the organization is an enemy of the Afghan people.”
More BBC reports on the situation in Afghanistan: