Taliban Announce Mullah Hasan Akhund As Leader Of 'Acting' Govt, Abdul Ghani Baradar Is Deputy

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> Taliban has announced Mullah Hasan Akhund as the new leader of the government to be formed in Afghanistan. AFP reported that the Taliban spokesman made the announcement on Tuesday evening.</p> <p>Taliban co-founder 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 the two deputies to Akhund in the new Taliban regime.</p> <p>Mullah Abdus Salam is another deputy to Akhund.</p> <p>As per the Taliban government spokesman, this new government is only an 'acting' one.</p> <p><strong>Other Key Ministers Of Taliban's Interim Govt</strong></p> <p>Zabihullah Mujahid has been made the Deputy Information and Culture Minister, whereas, Mullah Tajmir Javad will be the first Deputy of Intelligence Department.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mullah Rahmatullah Najeeb is the administrative Deputy of Intelligence Department.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mullah Abdulhaq Akhund is the deputy Interior Minister for Counter Narcotics.</p> <p>Acting Minister of Refugees: Khalilurahman Haqqani</p> <p>Acting Director of Intelligence: Abdul Haq Wasiq</p> <p>Acting Director of the Central Bank: Haji Mohammad Idris</p> <p>Acting Director of the Administrative Office of the President: Ahmad Jan Ahmady</p> <p>Acting Minister of Water and Energy: Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor&nbsp;</p> <p>Acting Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport: Mullah Hamidullah Akhundzada</p> <p>Acting Minister of Higher Education: Abdul Baqi Haqqani</p> <p>Acting Minister of Telecommunication: Najibullah Haqqani</p> <p>Actng Minister of Economy: Qari Din Hanif</p> <p>Acting Minister for Hajj amd Religious Affairs: &nbsp;Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib</p> <p>Acting Minister of Justice: Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Sharie</p> <p>Acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs: Mullah Noorullah Noori</p> <p>Acting Foreign Minister: Amir Khan Muttaqi</p> <p>Acting Finance Minister: Mullah Hedayatullah Badri</p> <p>Acting Education Minister: Sheikh Mawlawi Noorullah</p> <p>Acting Minister for Information and Culture: Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah</p> <p>Head of State: Mullah Hassan Akhund</p> <p>First Deputy: Mullah Baradar&nbsp;</p> <p>Second Deputy: Mawlavi Hannafi</p> <p>Acting Minister of Defense: Mullah Yaqoub</p> <p>Acting Minister of Interior: Serajuddin Haqqani</p> <p>While making the announcement, the spokesperson said that all groups have been represented in the cabinet and no one will be able to interfere in Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Afghanistan had gained freedom and only the will of Afghans will be applicable in the country," he said.</p> <p>He said that the Taliban had been in contact with various countries and their envoys had visited Afghanistan. In response to a question, the spokesperson said the country will now be called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.</p> <p>The Taliban swept into Kabul on August 15 following a lightning offensive that decimated the former Afghan army. On the same day, the elected leader Ashraf Ghani fled from the country.</p> <p>Taliban have promised to be a more moderate version of themselves, not like their first stint in power in 1996-2001.</p> <p>Despite growing demands of an inclusive government in the international community, there was no evidence of non-Taliban in the lineup.&nbsp;</p> <p>Taliban's new regime announcement came amid massive protests in Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan.</p> <p>The protest began outside Pakistan Embassy to denounce what the demonstrators allege as Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan, especially Islamabad's alleged support for the latest Taliban offensive that routed anti-Taliban fighters in Panjshir province.</p>