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Taliban to form a 12-member council to run Afghanistan: Sources
Sources close to the Taliban leadership told the American publication Foreign Policy that the group will form a 12-member council to run the country.
According to the report, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s political deputy; Mullah Mohammad Yaqub, the son of Mullah Mohammad Omar; and Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, a senior member of Haqqani network will be included in the council.
“Our elders are busy. Consultations about a political system are underway. When we conclude our consultations, we will be witness to the system,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman.
Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar will also be members of this council, reports indicated.
“Mullah Barada can work with other partners to form a truly inclusive government,” said Sayed Hafizullah Naqi, a member of the leadership of Hezb -i- Islami.
According to the report, the Taliban are ready to give some members of the previous government some ministries as they want to form an inclusive government.
The Taliban, meanwhile, have said they will not form a government while the United States has a military presence in Afghanistan.
The Council of Shiite Ulema also reiterated the need for an inclusive government to be formed by the Taliban.
“Creating an Islamic system acceptable to all and forming an inclusive government is our desire,” said an Ulema member Sayed Hussain Alami Balkhi.
Afghanistan has been in a political and legal vacuum for ten days, with sources saying the Taliban will not announce the formation of a government until the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is complete.
“A broad-based, comprehensive and inclusive Islamic system should be formed with the participation of all ethnic groups, brothers of Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Akbari, a member of the Shiite Council of Afghanistan.
In such a situation, one of the obstacles to forming an inclusive government with the Taliban is Ahmad Massoud’s opposition to the Taliban in Panjshir. Although political talks are ongoing to resolve the stalemate between the two sides, both sides have warned each other of the possibility of using the military option.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Afghanistan says the country has the world’s fifth-highest number of obstetric fistula cases, with an estimated 15,000 women and girls suffering from the childbirth-related injury.
In a post on X, UNFPA Afghanistan said obstetric fistula continues to cause disability and social isolation for thousands of Afghan women and girls.
The agency stressed that preventing and treating the condition requires access to healthcare services, safe surgical procedures, and essential medical supplies.
Obstetric fistula is a serious childbirth injury that usually occurs after prolonged or obstructed labor without timely medical care. The condition can lead to chronic health complications and often leaves affected women facing stigma and exclusion from their communities.
Fazl-ul-Hadi Hamza, the cultural attaché of the Afghan embassy in Moscow, participated in the “Colors of the World” art exhibition featuring creative works by foreign diplomats.
The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the State Tretyakov Gallery with the support of the ministry’s state protocol department and in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Culture, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement.
The event is being held for the second consecutive year as part of the international “Intermuseum” festival and will remain open to visitors for three days.
During the exhibition, Zabih Paikan, an Afghan painter residing in Russia, displayed his artworks, which drew significant attention from visitors. Exhibition organizers also recognized his artworks as one of the top entries at the event.
Zabih Paikan was introduced to the exhibition by the cultural attaché of the Afghan embassy in Moscow.
Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, in a message on the occasion on Eid al-Adha, congratulated the people of Afghanistan and Muslims around the world and emphasized the protection of the Islamic system, implementation of Sharia law, and support for returning migrants.
He urged Afghans to value the country’s security, stability, prosperity, and Islamic system, calling on the public to unite in strengthening and preserving it.
The Islamic Emirate leader said that under the Islamic system, the Sharia rights of citizens are protected and oppression and injustice are being prevented. He also described the activities of Sharia courts and the enforcement of the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice as part of broader efforts to reform society.
In the message, religious scholars, officials responsible for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, and religious outreach institutions were encouraged to expand public religious awareness, particularly on issues related to prayer and Islamic beliefs.
Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada also said the Islamic Emirate remains committed to supporting orphans, widows, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families, while calling on wealthy Afghans to increase assistance to those in need.
He stressed that the Islamic Emirate seeks political and economic relations with the international community, especially Islamic countries, within the framework of Sharia principles.
The leader of the Islamic Emirate further instructed government officials to prioritize public service, citizens’ welfare, and the swift handling of people’s concerns, while warning against injustice and abuse of power.
He also directed security institutions to ensure public safety and peace during the Eid holidays and called on relevant authorities to provide greater support and facilities for returning migrants, particularly in settlement, land distribution, and resettlement efforts.
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