The Taliban on Tuesday announced an interim government consisting of 33 members, headed by Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as the acting Prime Minister.
Mohammad Hasan Akhund is one of the founding members of the Taliban and has served as the foreign minister and deputy Prime Minister from 1996-2001 in the previous Taliban regime.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, who headed the negotiations with the United States of America to pull out its troops from Afghanistan, has been named as the Deputy Prime Minister.
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At least 5 members of the new Talibani cabinet are United Nations designated terrorists and have sanctions under their name.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, announcing the interim appointments at a press conference, declared the country would now be called the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan". "Afghanistan has gained freedom and only the will of Afghans will be applicable in the country. After today, no one will be able to interfere in Afghanistan," the Taliban spokesman said.
Here are the new cabinet ministers of Afghanistan:
Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Acting Prime Minister
Acting Prime Minister Akhund had been a close associate of the founder of the movement’s reclusive first leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. He was a long-time head of Rehbari Shura, the Taliban’s most powerful decision-making body. Akhund is believed to be in his mid-60s and possibly older, as more of a political than a religious figure, with his control over the leadership council, also giving him a say in military affairs, according to a News18 report.
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Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister
A close friend of Mullah Omar, Abdul Ghani Baradar has been chosen as the deputy Prime Minister. He was the deputy Defence minister during the previous Taliban regime. Baradar, which means brother, was given to him by Omar. Following the fall of the Taliban government, Baradar served as a senior military commander responsible for attacks on coalition forces, a UN sanctions notice said. He was arrested and imprisoned in 2010 in Pakistan.
Maulavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Acting Deputy Prime Minister
Another name under the UN Sanctions, Hanafi has been a prominent figure in the Taliban’s negotiations with Russia and China since 2015. He was appointed as the deputy political head of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and was often seen in Moscow and Beijing, heading key talks with the respective countries. He was put on the sanctions list after he was found to be a part of drug trafficking.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Foreign Minister
Previously served as the minister of culture and information and education, Muttaqi has now been named as the foreign minister. He was bestowed as a member of the peace commission and negotiation team that held talks with the United States. He has been witnessed projecting a moderate voice, calling on forces that were fighting against the Talibani regime to hold talks. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai will serve as his deputy.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, Acting Interior Minister
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of Haqqani network’s founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, will be the new interior minister. His father died in 2018, following which he rose to the rank and was seen as a prominent person in the Taliban. The United Nations Sanctions Committee has said that the Haqqani group, based in the lawless frontier areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has close involvement in drugs production and trade. The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million, who is FBI’s one of the most men due to his links with Al-Qaeda.
Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of the slain Taliban founder Mullah Omar, has been named as the defense minister. Hidayatullah Badri will be the acting minister of finance. Zabhiullah Mujahid has been given charge of the information ministry. Fasihuddin Badakhshani has been named army chief. No person outside from the Taliban was picked during the formation of the cabinet.
