Listed terrorists among Taliban's new government

The Taliban on Tuesday announced UN-sanctioned Taliban veteran, MullahMohammad Hassan Akhund as the leader of their new government while giving key positions to some of the movement's top figures. At least five of the newly appointed members are on the UN-designated list of terrorists.

^{Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister}

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Chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that Taliban co-founder Abdul GhaniBaradarwill be the deputy leader.

In 2010, the ISI arrested and imprisoned him in Pakistan. In 2018, upon the request of the Trump administration, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released from a Pakistani prison and thereafter he became the head of the Taliban's political office in Doha.

^{Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister}

MullahYaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leaderMullahOmar, was named defenceminister.

The position of the interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network who also doubled up as a Taliban deputy leader.

^{Sirajuddin Haqqani, Interior Minister}

"The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul.

"We will try to take people from other parts of the country."

The hardline Islamists, who swept to power last month, have been expected to announce a government since the US-led evacuation was completed at the end of August.

They have promised an "inclusive" government that represents Afghanistan's complex ethnic makeup -- though women are unlikely to be included at the top levels.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha and member of the first regime's cabinet, was named foreign minister.

^{Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign minister}

As they transition from insurgent group to governing power, the Taliban have a series of major issues to address, including looming financial and humanitarian crises.

Some other appointments as per ourreports include:

^{Zabiullah Mujahid, Deputy Information Minister}

^{Khaiulla Khairkhwa, Information MInister}

^{Alhaj Mullah Fazel Akhund, Chief of Army staff}

^{Abdul Hakim, Ministerof Justice}

^{Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi (Deputy for Council of Ministers)}

(With inputs from agencies)