Taliban says announcement of new government in Afghanistan will take longer

Kabul, Sep 3 (EFE).- The Taliban said Friday that the announcement of the new government will take longer although consultations over the issue between the Islamist group and other parties had been concluded.

The statement comes amid speculations of the announcement coming on Friday following the afternoon prayers.

“This is incorrect propaganda and rumors that the Islamic Emirate (the name the Taliban use to call themselves) will be announcing the formation of the new government by today,” Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi told EFE.

“So far no exact date has been decided for the announcement of the new government,” he added.

The spokesperson said that consultations between the Taliban and Afghan politicians on the formation of a new Islamic system to govern Afghanistan have been concluded, following the final departure of US troops from the country on Aug.31.

Preparations have been underway for the announcement of the new government in Afghanistan over the last few days, according to Taliban’s social media, which posted pics showing numerous white flags of Islamists readied for the ceremony.

Talks between the Islamists and members of the Afghan opposition focused on meetings with representatives of the interim council to assist in the transition of power in Afghanistan with insurgents.

The interim council is led by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai; former chief executive and chairman of the Higher Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, and Hizb-e-Islami party leader and former warlord, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

However, sources close to that council say that these contacts with the Taliban were very superficial, and closer to exchanging of personal opinions.

“The council was disbanded within a few days after its formation after the Taliban showed no interest to consult with members of this council regularly,” a former Afghan official assigned to help with the council told EFE on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile the only certainty for now about the new government is that it will be based on Islamic or Sharia law.

There are rumors that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and head of the group’s political office in Qatar, may be Afghanistan’s next president, and that its current leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, it will be a sort of supreme spiritual leader of the country. EFE

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