Taliban: "New Afghan Government Formation to Be Announced Soon... No Women in Senior Positions"

Iranian-style new regime likely to be established... Announcement expected on the 3rd
Taliban "Women's roles will be in lower positions"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Afghan armed faction Taliban has completed discussions on forming a new government and is expected to announce the government formation plan soon. While a theocratic system similar to Iran's is anticipated to be established, the Taliban stated that although some female public officials will be included, there will be none in high-ranking positions.

According to Afghan local media Tolo News on the 2nd (local time), Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi said at a press conference that the Taliban leadership has finished discussions regarding the form of the new government and cabinet composition, and the government formation plan will be announced as early as the 3rd. The head of the new government is expected to be Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, with an Iranian-style theocratic system being established.

According to The Washington Post (WP), Akhundzada recently proposed a new government form similar to Iran's theocratic system during a three-day meeting with the Taliban leadership. Iran has a theocratic system with the supreme leader at the top, where religious council members elect the supreme leader, and members of parliament and the head of the executive branch, the president, are elected by direct vote.

Enamulah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's Cultural Commission, said in an interview with Tolo News, "There should be no doubt that Akhundzada will be the leader of the new government." Born around 1961, Akhundzada has led the Taliban since 2016. As the supreme leader, he makes important decisions in political, religious, and military fields. A scholar of Islamic law, he has rarely appeared in public, earning the nickname of a reclusive leader.

Russia's Sputnik News reported that the Taliban has decided to appoint Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the Taliban founders and the organization's second-in-command, as foreign minister, and Muhammad Yaqub, son of Taliban founder Muhammad Omar and head of military operations, as defense minister. Earlier, the Taliban had nominated Khalil Haqqani, a senior figure in the affiliated Haqqani Network, as interior minister, and appointed senior Taliban leaders Gul Agha and Sadr Ibrahim as finance minister and acting interior minister, respectively.

Meanwhile, regarding the controversial appointment of female public officials in the international community, the Taliban stated that some female public officials will be included, but none will hold high-ranking positions. Ser Abs Stanekzai, deputy head of the Taliban political office, said in an interview with the BBC, "The new government will include some women, but not in high-ranking positions; they will have roles at lower levels." He added, "Those who worked in the Afghan government over the past 20 years will not be included."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.