Taliban set to announce new government

The Taliban and Afghans have almost finalised the new government as the group said the official announcement could come out in the next two days.

"Taliban leader Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada will be the new supreme leader of Afghanistan," Anamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission, told Afghanistan's TOLOnews.

Quoting a Taliban official, The New York Times also confirmed Akhundzada to be the supreme chief of the country. Bloomberg News, citing Bilal Karimi, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission, also reported on the plans for the new government, including Akhundzada's new role.

"Akhundzada will not be the president. He will be the leader of Afghanistan. Below him there will be a prime minister or a president that will work under his oversight," Mohammad Hasan Haqyar, a political analyst, told local Afghan media.

Sher Abbas Stanekzai, deputy head of the Taliban's political office in Qatar, in an interview to BBC said the new government will be inclusive, having a role for women at lower levels but not in very high positions.

He also said those who served in government in the past two decades would not be included.

Although the Taliban swiftly took over Kabul this month, the group seemed to have spent more than a decade preparing to take power by steadily expanding a shadow government for "the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan".

They have already appointed governors, police chiefs and police commanders for provinces and districts.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban who has served as the group's deputy leader in recent years, was expected to be in charge of day-to-day affairs as head of government.

Baradar acted as the chief negotiator for the group in peace talks with the United States in Qatar, presiding over the agreement that cleared the way for the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

According to The New York Times, other key positions in the government are expected to go to Sirajuddin Haqqani, an influential Taliban leader, and Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder Mullah Muhammad Omar.

No public discussion was held about the name of the new government, the national flag or national anthem, said TOLOnews.

Although it is still unclear exactly when the new government will be announced, it is certain that the Islamists leaders will face huge challenges stemming from humanitarian and economic crises.

Kabul will also be strapped for cash as funds are cut off by the United States and international lenders, and international communities are in debate whether to recognise the Taliban.