New Taliban Government in Afghanistan has shocked the world by containing some notorious members of the group. According to reports, the Taliban appointed Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as Prime Minister to lead the interim government, nearly 3 weeks after the takeover. The Taliban representative Suhail Shaheen shared the list of acting ministers in what was said to be a temporary government.
Despite including the names that were blacklisted by the UN, the list also mentioned the one who was presumed dead in one of several US drone attacks over the years.
New Taliban Government Appoints Dead Person as Army Chief
The name of this Taliban member was Qari Fasihuddin who was declared dead by the former Afghan government. The influential leader of the group was allegedly killed in a 2019 drone strike and former president Ashraf Ghani himself announced his death. According to reports, Qari was a key player in taking over Panjshir Valley, which was the last resort for resistance forces.
The public was convinced that more Taliban members who were pronounced as “killed” after each US drone strike, could still be alive.
US Drone Strikes Killed More Civilians than Taliban
In contrast to claims by the allied US and Afghan forces, the airstrikes have caused more harm to the civilians than the Taliban. According to reports by The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), allied forces killed more than 700 civilians in the first 6 months of 2019. Whereas the Taliban, IS, and other militant groups killed 531 civilians collectively.
Sadly, neither side stopped their attacks until allied forces decided to quit the war. The move resulted in Afghanistan being completely taken over by the Taliban, leaving the world wondering how all of it happened. Then the militant group announced it would play government in the country.
What Does the Cabinet Look Like?
The list seemed to omit the name of Haibatullah Akhunzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban. The whole interim government would likely work under him or for him. He was in charge of all political, military, and religious affairs since taking the throne in 2016. Previously he participated in the resistance against Soviet forces in the 1980s but he was widely known for being a religious leader rather than a military one.
Other members also include the infamous Taliban Five who were held in Guantanamo Bay. Former US President Barack Obama negotiated a deal with the Taliban to return these 5 Taliban members in exchange for one US Army deserter. Their names were Mohammad Nabi Umri, Mullah Mohammad Fazil, Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, Mullah Noorullah Noori, and Khairullah Khairkhwa.
