KABUL (SW) – The Taliban have named a 33-member cabinet for the ‘interim government’ of the ‘Islamic Emirate’ in Afghanistan.
According to the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, these ministers would be led by Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund while Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi are set to serve as his deputies.
Mujahid told a news conference that the Haqqani Network head Sarajuddin Haqqani will be acting interior minister, and Amir Khan Muttaqi has been named acting foreign minister.
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the son of the group’s late supreme leader Mullah Omar, got the defense portfolio in the interim setup.
The other interim cabinet members are Amir Khan Muttaqi (foreign minister), Abas Stanikzai (deputy foreign minister), Qari Din Hanif (economy), Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib (Hajj and religious affairs), Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Sharie (justice), Hidayatullah Badri (commerce), Mullah Noorullah Noori (borders and tribal affairs), Mullah Mohammad Younus Akhundzada (rural rehabilitation and development), Mullah Abdul Manan Omari (public works), Mullah Mohammad Esa Akhund (Mines and Petroleum), Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor (water and energy), Mullah Hamidullah Akhundzada (civil aviation and transport), Maulvi Noorullah Munir (education), Abdul Baqi Haqqani (higher education), Najibullah Haqqani (telecommunications), Khalilurahman Haqqani (refugees), Abdul Haq Wasiq (intelligence head), Haji Mohammad Idris (central bank head), Ahmad Jan Ahmadi (administrative office head), Khairullah Khairkhwaha (director of information and culture ministry), Haji Khalilur Rehman Haqqani (Refugees), Mullah Mohammad Fazil Mazlum (interim deputy defense minister), Qari Fasihuudin Loi (chief of staff), Mullah Abdul Haq Akhund (interim deputy minister of counter-narcotics and interior), Rahmatullah Najib (deputy director intelligence), Taj Mir Jawad (deputy director military intelligence), and Maulavi Noorud Din Jalali (interim deputy interior minister).
Mujahid expressed hope that the new government will be recognized by the international community, particularly the Muslim world and neighboring countries. “We are eager to collaborate with everyone, even the US, which we fought for 20 years,” he added.
ENDS
