Afghanistan still without government 3 weeks after Taliban takeover

Kabul, Sep 5 (EFE).- The Taliban marked Sunday three weeks since coming to power in Afghanistan and have yet to announce a new government.

The Afghan population, meanwhile, is tentatively adapting to the new reality under the hardline Islamist group amid warnings from human rights groups about the worsening humanitarian situation in the country.

The Taliban captured Kabul on August 15 but the public — and, indeed the international community — is still waiting to see who will take on the leading roles in a future government, which is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, a Taliban spokesman, said in a tweet Sunday that “preparations to announce the new government and cabinet are underway.”

Until the government, which the Taliban said would be “inclusive” by bringing in representatives of Afghanistan’s plethora of ethnic groups, is revealed Afghans are going about their daily lives under a new regime.

Domestic flights resumed on Saturday for the first time since the Taliban took control of the country. Until Monday, when the United States-led mission withdrew, the airport had exclusively been used for evacuations.

The Taliban on Saturday also announced the resumption of business at the Shahzada, the country’s largest foreign currency exchange market.

Some banks in the capital have reopened and large lines of customers formed outside to withdraw money. Authorities set a withdrawal limit of $200 due to the perilous economic situation in Afghanistan.

Elementary schools are up and running but secondary schools and most public institutions have been closed since the Taliban takeover.

Human rights organizations on Sunday raised concerns over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.