Taliban names all-male caretaker govt including minister wanted by FBI

The leadership unveiled on Tuesday is drawn entirely from Taliban ranks, despite promises of an inclusive cabinet, and many of its senior figures are on UN sanctions lists, which is likely to complicate the group’s search for international recognition, reports The Guardian.

A US State Department spokesman told the newspaper: “We note the announced list of names consists exclusively of individuals who are members of the Taliban or their close associates and no women. We also are concerned by the affiliations and track records of some of the individuals.”

“We understand that the Taliban has presented this as a caretaker cabinet. However, we will judge the Taliban by its actions, not words," the spokesperson said.

The list, however, draws attention as Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has been named as the interior minister, is on the FBI wanted list with a $5m (£3.6m) bounty on his head.

The Taliban on Tuesday announced that UN-sanctioned leader Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund will head their new government in Afghanistan while key positions will be held by the movement's top officials.

Making the announcement, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that the group's co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar will be the deputy leader.

Mullah Yaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, has been named the defence minister.

The Taliban took over the South Asian country on August 15.

They have been expected to announce a government since the US-led evacuation was completed by August 31.

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