Taliban New Cabinet Announced, No Place For Women. Hope Recognition In Global Forums

The Taliban on Tuesday announced a list of deputy ministers and once again did not include any women.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Afghanistan

New Delhi: After days of forming the government in  Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a list of deputy ministers on Tuesday with no women included in the cabinet again. Zabihullah Mujahid, the deputy minister of information and culture of the caretaker government, at a press conference in Kabul says the current cabinet will remain as caretaker and that their leaders will decide on the way forward.

According to TOLONews, Mujahid also announced that the inauguration ceremony for the new government was canceled due to their focus on providing service to the people at this point.

Girls will be allowed to return to school: Taliban

In response to a question on inclusivity of the cabinet, Mujahid says minorities are considered in the cabinet and that they are working to make it more inclusive. Girls in Afghanistan will be allowed to return to school as soon as possible, the Taliban said on Tuesday, after announcing the remaining positions in its all-male cabinet.

This comes after the education ministry ordered male teachers and students back to secondary school at the weekend, but made no mention of the country's women educators and girl pupils.

Mujahid also made no reference to the now-closed women's affairs ministry, which was shut down last week and replaced with a department that earned notoriety for enforcing religious doctrine during the previous Taliban regime. "These positions are considered important for the functioning of the Emirate," he said announcing the final cabinet appointments, which included additions to the health ministry, reports AFP.

Responding to a question on the status of the new cabinet, Mujahid expressed his hope that the international community will recognize their cabinet in near future. 

Domestic Revenues enough for basic needs: Taliban

Mujahid also talked about the country's economic situation and said that the domestic revenues might be enough for basic needs. 

"We are using all diplomatic channels to unfreeze the Afghan assets," Mujahid said.

Speaking on the restrictions in media in the country, Mujahid.

Afghan media will be allowed to operate: Mujahid

According to TOLONews, 153 media outlets have stopped operation in Afghanistan since last month for various reasons, including lack of access to information and budget issues. 

However, Mujahid vowed that the Afghan media will be allowed to operate.

"Media are important and we support the media. There have been some problems in provinces that are being addressed," he added.

List of the new members of the caretaker cabinet announced:

• Haji Nooruddin Azizi, acting minister of commerce

• Haji Mohammad Bashir, deputy minister commerce 

• Haji Mohammad Azim Sultanzada, deputy minister of commerce

• Qalandar Ebad, acting minister of public health

• Abdulbari Omar, deputy minister of public health

• Mohammad Hassan Ghiasi, deputy minister of public health 

• Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy minister of interior affairs for security 

• Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, deputy minister of defense

• Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen, acting head of the National Olympic Committee

• Mujiburrahman Omar, deputy minister of energy and water

• Ghulam Ghaws, deputy minister of disasters management

• Mohammad Faqir, acting chairman of Central Statistics Authority

• Haji Gul Mohammad, deputy minister borders and tribal affairs

• Gul Zarin Kochai, deputy minister of borders and tribal affairs 

• Arsala Kharoti, deputy minister of refugees and repatriation affairs

• Lotfullah Khairkhwa, deputy minister of higher education

• Najibullah, director of the Nuclear Energy Department