Taliban appoints new Afghan government and Minister of Interior to be included in US sanctions list – EURACTIV.com

On Tuesday (September 7), the Taliban transferred high-level positions in the new Afghan government from among its top internal staff, including an associate of the founder of the Islamic militant group as prime minister, and a member of the US terrorist list who served as internal affairs The minister’s wanted man.

The world’s major powers told the Taliban that the key to peace and development is an inclusive government. After the period of power marked by bloody feuds and oppression of women from 1996 to 2001, the government will support its commitment to adopt a more reconciled approach and uphold human rights. .

The supreme leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Ahunzada, stated in the first public statement since the rebels occupied the capital Kabul on August 15 that the Taliban is committed to complying with all international laws, treaties and commitments that do not conflict with Islamic law.

He said in a statement: “In the future, all governance and life affairs in Afghanistan will be governed by the Holy Sharia law.” In the statement, he also congratulated the Afghans for their liberation from foreign rule.

After the Taliban’s military victory three weeks after the withdrawal of US-led foreign troops and the collapse of a weak Western-backed government, the name announced by the new government did not extend an olive branch to its opponents.

The United States stated that it was concerned about the past records of some cabinet members and pointed out that they did not include women. “The whole world is watching closely,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said.

In the 20 years of the US-backed government, Afghans who have made significant progress in education and civil liberties are still worried about the Taliban’s intentions. Since the Taliban took over, daily protests have continued to challenge the new ruler.

On Tuesday, following the announcement of the new government, a group of Afghan women on the streets of Kabul took cover after Taliban gunmen shot into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters.

The last time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, girls could not go to school, and women were forbidden to work and receive education. The religious police will flog anyone who violates the rules and execute them publicly.

The Taliban urged Afghans to be patient and vowed to be more tolerant this time-many Afghans and foreign powers will carefully review this pledge as a condition of much-needed aid and investment in Afghanistan.

The legacy of the late founder

Like many in the Taliban leadership, Mullah Hasan Akhund, who was appointed prime minister, owes much of his reputation to him and the movement’s reclusive late founder Mullah Omar (Mullah Omar). Omar), who presided over the rule of the movement 20 years ago.

Akhund is the long-term head of Rehbari Shura, or leadership committee, the powerful decision-making body of the Taliban. When the Taliban took power for the last time, he served successively as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. Like many incoming cabinet members, he was sanctioned by the United Nations because of his role in the government.

The new Secretary of the Interior Sirajadine Haqqani is the son of the founder of the Haqqani Network, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Washington. He is one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals because of his involvement in suicide attacks and his connection with al-Qaeda.

The Taliban’s main spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference in Kabul that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the political office of the movement, was accused by Omar ( Mullah Omar was appointed as Akhund’s deputy.

Baradar was handed over to the highest position in the government surprised some people, because he was responsible for negotiating the withdrawal of US troops in the Qatar negotiations and showing the face of the Taliban to the outside world.

Baradar was a senior Taliban commander and participated in a long-term rebellion against the US military. He was arrested and imprisoned in Pakistan in 2010, and after being released in 2018, he became the head of the Taliban’s Doha political office.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Omar, was appointed Minister of Defense. Mujahid said that all appointments are acting as agents.

White House spokesperson Jane Pasaki told reporters on Air Force One that when President Biden flies to New York, the Taliban government will not be recognized soon.

Economic collapse

Taliban spokesman Mujahid, speaking against the backdrop of the collapse of public services and economic collapse in the turbulent foreign withdrawal chaos, said that an acting cabinet had been set up to respond to the main needs of the Afghan people.

He said that before looking for qualified talent, some ministries and commissions still need to be filled.

The United Nations said earlier on Tuesday that basic services in Afghanistan are disintegrating and food and other aid are about to run out. More than 500,000 people have been internally displaced in Afghanistan this year.

The International Donor Conference is scheduled to be held in Geneva on September 13. Western powers have stated that they are ready to provide humanitarian assistance, but broader economic participation depends on the form and actions of the Taliban government.

‘The resistance will continue’

On Monday, the Taliban claimed victory in the Panjshir Valley, the last province to oppose it.

Photos on social media showed Taliban members standing in front of Governor Panjshir’s compound a few days after fighting with the Afghan National Resistance Front (NRFA) commanded by Panjshir leader Ahmad Massoud.

Masood denied that his troops composed of remnants of the Afghan army and local militias had been beaten, and said on Twitter that “our resistance will continue.”