New Taliban ‘same as the old Taliban’
A NEW Taliban interim government drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks formally began work yesterday, with established hardliners in all key posts and no women -– despite previous promises to form an inclusive administration for all Afghans.
As they transition from militant force to governing power, the Taliban are already facing opposition to their rule, with scattered protests, many with women at the forefront, breaking out in cities across the country.
A small rally in the capital yesterday was quickly dispersed by armed Taliban security, while Afghan media reported a protest in the north-eastern city of Faizabad was also broken up.
Hundreds protested on Tuesday, both in the capital and in the city of Herat, where two people at the demonstration site were shot dead.
The announcement of a government on Tuesday night was a key step in the Taliban’s consolidation of power over Afghanistan, following a stunning military victory that saw them oust the American-backed administration
on August 15.
Notorious for their brutal and oppressive rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban had promised a more inclusive government this time. However, all the top positions were handed to key leaders from the movement and the Haqqani network, the most violent faction of the Taliban known for devastating attacks.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a senior minister during the Taliban’s reign in the 1990s, was appointed interim prime minister, the group’s chief spokesperson said at a press conference in Kabul.
Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named the defence minister, while the position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin
Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network.
Co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement last year, was appointed deputy prime minister.
None of the government appointees were women.
The Taliban had made repeated pledges in recent days to rule with greater moderation than they had in their last stint in power.
“The new Taliban, same as the old Taliban,” tweeted Bill Roggio, managing editor of the US-based Long War Journal.
“It’s not at all inclusive, and that’s no surprise whatsoever,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.