Taliban Announces Cabinet in Memory of Old Guard After Violent Protest Dispersal
On Tuesday, the Taliban announced Cabinet appointments for an interim government, as per Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid
The appointments were made in memory of the old guard of the group, with top posts being given to Taliban personalities who dominated the 20-year battle against the U.S.-led coalition and its Afghan government allies.
During the last years of its rule, Interim Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund headed the Taliban government in Kabul.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who had led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America’s final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of two deputies to Akhund.
According to reports, there was no non-Taliban in the lineup. Mujahid also did not elaborate on how long they would serve and what would be the catalyst for a change.
So far, the Taliban have shown no indications that they will hold elections.
The announcement of Cabinet appointments by Mujahid came hours after the Taliban fired into the air to disperse protesters and arrested several journalists.
This was the second time in less than a week the group used violent tactics to break up a demonstration in Kabul.
Sources say that the protests happened when demonstrators had gathered outside the Pakistan Embassy to accuse Islamabad of aiding the Taliban’s assault on northern Panjshir province.
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The Taliban said Monday they seized the province — the last not in their control — after their blitz through Afghanistan last month.
Several accusations were previously made by Afghanistan’s previous government on Pakistan of aiding the Taliban, which Pakistan had always denied.
Former vice president Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the anti-Taliban forces, has long been an outspoken critic of neighboring Pakistan.
The Taliban then violently dispersed a protest again when it arrived near the presidential palace on Tuesday. They fired their weapons into the air and arrested several journalists covering the demonstration.
“This is the third time I have been beaten by the Taliban covering protests,” A journalist told Associate Press. “I won’t go again to cover a demonstration. It’s too difficult for me.”
A comment is still yet to be made by the Taliban about these recent issues.
