Taliban says its preparing to form a new cabinet

The Taliban are preparing to put together a cabinet as the United States wraps up its evacuation operation, a spokesperson for the insurgent group told Reuters. 

The spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, did not give an exact timeline of when the cabinet would be ready, according to the wire service. However, he noted that the group already designated heads of education and public health institutions, among others. 

News from the Taliban spokesperson comes after the group consolidated power in the country over the last month, making military gains in several big cities before eventually capturing Kabul. 

Following the capture of the capital city, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Following the president’s exit, Vice President Amrullah Saleh declared himself as the “caretaker” president. 

The Panjshir Valley is considered the last remaining stronghold for resistance against the Taliban in the country, and several Republican congressmen have urged President Biden to recognize oppositional leaders, including Saleh, there as “the legitimate government representatives of Afghanistan.”

The country is also steeped in economic hardship given its Afghani currency has lost much of its value and its banks have been closed for several weeks, according to Reuters. To add to the economic crisis, parts of Afghanistan have been dealing with a serious drought, and food prices have soared. 

Mujahid said that once the Taliban have formed their new government, conditions in the country would stabilize again.

“The fall of Afghani against foreign currency is temporary and it is because of the situation that suddenly changed, it will come back to normal once the government system starts functioning,” Mujahid told Reuters.