Taliban Set to Form New Government under Haibatullah Akhundzada

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Sept 1: As the Taliban and other Afghan leaders are said to have reached a “consensus” on the formation of a new government under its “supreme spiritual commander” Haibatullah Akhundzada, the militants prepared on Wednesday to stage a parade showcasing some of the military hardware they captured during their takeover of Afghanistan to demonstrate their “power.”

The Islamist hardliners celebrated the US withdrawal, which was completed on Monday, as a major victory after taking control of Afghanistan last month following a bloody insurgency. A long line of green Humvees idled in single file on a highway outside Kandahar, the spiritual birthplace of the terrorist movement, many with white-and-black Taliban flags attached to aerials.

In footage posted on a pro-Taliban account of the build-up of the parade, a helicopter flew overhead, trailing the Taliban’s standard beneath it as fighters wrapped in headscarves waved beneath. At least one Black Hawk helicopter has been seen flying over Kandahar in recent days, suggesting someone from the former Afghan army was at the controls as the Taliban lack qualified pilots.

The preparations for showcasing to the world the fire-power of the militants is on even as an official spokesman disclosed about a “consensus” having reached among the Taliban and other Afghan leaders on the formation of a new government and cabinet under the leadership of the group’s top spiritual leader.

The Taliban supreme commander Haibatullah Akhundzada will be the top leader of any governing council, Bilal Karimi, a member of the group’s cultural commission said on Wednesday. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of Akhundzada’s three deputies and the main public face of the Taliban, is likely to be in charge of the daily functioning of the government, Karimi added.

“The consultations on forming an inclusive Afghan government within the Islamic Emirate’s leaders, with the leaders from previous government and other influential leaders have officially ended,” Karimi said. “They have reached a consensus. We’re about to announce a functioning cabinet and government in a few days, not weeks.”

The Taliban had been waiting for the full withdrawal of US troops before making any announcements about their government, said a senior official who asked not to be identified because of the private nature of the talks. Both Akhundzada and Baradar will soon make a public appearance in Kabul, the official added.

Akhundzada is currently in the southern city of Kandahar, the group’s stronghold, where he led a three-day conference of top Taliban and other Afghan leaders, Zabihullah Mujahed, the group’s main spokesman had said on Tuesday.

The United Nations warned, meanwhile, of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe,” underscoring the daunting challenges that the Taliban face as they transform from insurgent group to governing power.

All eyes will now turn to how the Taliban handle their first few days with sole authority over the country, with a sharp focus on whether they will allow free departure for those wanting to leave — including some foreigners. The US has said “under 200” of its citizens remain in the country, and Britain said the number of UK nationals inside was in the “low hundreds.”

Thousands of Afghans who worked with the US-backed government over the years and fear retribution still want to get out. Talks are ongoing as to who will now run Kabul airport, which German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned was of “existential importance” as a lifeline for aid.

Qatar, meanwhile, urged the Taliban to ensure “safe passage” for people still desperate to flee. Many Afghans are terrified of a repeat of the Taliban’s initial rule from 1996-2001, which was infamous for their treatment of women and girls, as well as a brutal justice system.

The group has repeatedly promised a more tolerant brand of governance compared with their first stint in power. But UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed his “grave concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country,” adding that basic services threatened to collapse “completely.” He pleaded for financial support from the international community for the war-ravaged country, which is dependent on foreign aid.

Authorities from several countries have already begun meeting with Taliban leadership, the latest being India. Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, urged the Taliban to combat terrorism after the US withdrawal and called for an inclusive government. But the US president Joe Biden said his government would continue the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries, and warned IS, which claimed the responsibility for last week’s explosion outside the Kabul airport killing over 200 people including 13 US soldiers, “We are not done with you yet.”