Taliban to unveil new government, with Haibatullah Akhundzada at helm
The new leaders will have to stave off an economic crisis after the US cut off aid, control spiraling inflation and also avoid a civil war
01 September 2021 - 11:27
byEltaf Najafizada
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Taliban forces patrol at a runway a day after US troops’ withdrawal from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 31 2021. Picture: REUTERS/STRINGER
The Taliban and other Afghan leaders have reached a “consensus” on the formation of a new government and cabinet under the leadership of the group’s top spiritual leader, an official said.
Taliban supreme commander Haibatullah Akhundzada will be the top leader of any governing council, Bilal Karimi, a member of the group’s cultural commission said Wednesday. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of Akhundzada’s three deputies and the main public face of the Taliban, is likely to be in charge of the daily functioning of the government, Karimi added.
“The consultations on forming an inclusive Afghan government within the Islamic Emirate’s leaders, with the leaders from previous government and other influential leaders have officially ended,” Karimi said. “They have reached a consensus. We’re about to announce a functioning cabinet and government in a few days, not weeks.”
The Taliban had been waiting for the full withdrawal of US troops before making any announcements about their government, said a senior official who asked not to be identified because of the private nature of the talks. Both Akhundzada and Baradar will soon make a public appearance in Kabul, the official added.
The US officially ended its longest war around midnight Monday Afghan time, a mission that began soon after the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001.
The mood among the Taliban has been jubilant following the exit of US troops but considerable challenges lie ahead as they now look to establish a functioning government. The new leaders will have to stave off an economic crisis after the US cut off aid and control spiraling inflation and also avoid a civil war with ethnic-based militias and a local offshoot of the Islamic State terror group.
Akhundzada is currently in the southern city of Kandahar, the group’s stronghold, where he led a three-day conference of top Taliban and other Afghan leaders, Zabihullah Mujahed, the group’s main spokesperson had said Tuesday.
Few other details were immediately known.
Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on Bloomberg.com
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Taliban to unveil new government, with Haibatullah Akhundzada at helm
The new leaders will have to stave off an economic crisis after the US cut off aid, control spiraling inflation and also avoid a civil war
The Taliban and other Afghan leaders have reached a “consensus” on the formation of a new government and cabinet under the leadership of the group’s top spiritual leader, an official said.
Taliban supreme commander Haibatullah Akhundzada will be the top leader of any governing council, Bilal Karimi, a member of the group’s cultural commission said Wednesday. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of Akhundzada’s three deputies and the main public face of the Taliban, is likely to be in charge of the daily functioning of the government, Karimi added.
“The consultations on forming an inclusive Afghan government within the Islamic Emirate’s leaders, with the leaders from previous government and other influential leaders have officially ended,” Karimi said. “They have reached a consensus. We’re about to announce a functioning cabinet and government in a few days, not weeks.”
The Taliban had been waiting for the full withdrawal of US troops before making any announcements about their government, said a senior official who asked not to be identified because of the private nature of the talks. Both Akhundzada and Baradar will soon make a public appearance in Kabul, the official added.
The US officially ended its longest war around midnight Monday Afghan time, a mission that began soon after the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001.
The mood among the Taliban has been jubilant following the exit of US troops but considerable challenges lie ahead as they now look to establish a functioning government. The new leaders will have to stave off an economic crisis after the US cut off aid and control spiraling inflation and also avoid a civil war with ethnic-based militias and a local offshoot of the Islamic State terror group.
Akhundzada is currently in the southern city of Kandahar, the group’s stronghold, where he led a three-day conference of top Taliban and other Afghan leaders, Zabihullah Mujahed, the group’s main spokesperson had said Tuesday.
Few other details were immediately known.
Bloomberg News. More stories like this are available on Bloomberg.com
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