Hours have passed since the Taliban movement revealed the names of its new interim government members, with no clear international commentary except for that issued by the United States. In a brief statement regarding the government, the U.S. State Department expressed concern about certain "affiliations and records" of the individuals selected for key positions in the government. Notably, the head of the government, Mohammad Hasan Akhund, is on a UN blacklist and was one of the pillars of the brutal regime established by the militant group from 1996 to 2001.
The most alarming and suspicious appointment is that of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has been assigned the interior ministry. His group, the "Haqqani Network," is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., and he is personally wanted by U.S. justice, which has previously offered a reward of millions of dollars for any information leading to his arrest. The FBI has specified a reward of five million dollars for information about Sirajuddin Haqqani's whereabouts.
Alongside Sirajuddin, the new cabinet includes three other ministers from the Haqqani Network: Khalilur Rahman Haqqani, the Minister of Refugees, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, the Minister of Higher Education, and Najibullah Haqqani, the Minister of Communications and Technology.
With this cabinet featuring many hardliners from the old guard of the movement, some of whom are surrounded by terrorism suspicions and accusations of sending suicide bombers against U.S.-led coalition forces, Afghans are awaiting the international community's stance. They also await the consequences for this government, which will be completed in the coming days, with the primary issues being international recognition and the resumption of aid to support a collapsing economy!
