September 08, 2021
After over two weeks of a governance vacuum in Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a caretaker cabinet on Tuesday evening.
In the new cabinet, Mullah Hassan Akhund has been selected as the acting head of state (prime minister), with Mullah Baradar and Mawlawi Hannafi serving as his deputies.
Mawlawi Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid, son of Mullah Umar, is appointed as the acting Minister for Defense, while Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman of Taliban, will serve as the deputy minister for Information and Broadcasting.
Malawi Siraj udin Haqqani has been appointed as Minister of Interior, while Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Taliban’s religious leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a statement few hours after the announcement of the new cabinet, stating that the new cabinet will take off its responsibilities immediately.
“As a caretaker and committed cabinet has been announced by the authorities of the Islamic Emirate to control and run the affairs of the country which will start functioning at the earliest, I assure all the countrymen that the figures will work hard towards upholding Islamic rules and Sharia law in the country, protecting the country’s highest interests, securing Afghanistan’s borders, and to ensuring lasting peace, prosperity and development.”
The statement also said the new government remains committed to protecting human rights.
“The Islamic Emirate will take serious and effective steps towards protecting human rights, the rights of minorities as well as the rights of the underprivileged groups within the framework of the demands of the sacred religion of Islam,” reads the statement.
As of now, 33 members of the new Islamic Government have been announced but no representation has been given to women and ethnic minorities including the Hazara community. But since several posts are yet to be announced in the near future, it is hoped that the weaker segments of the society will be given their due representation in the governmental setting.
