The Taliban recently announced the new cabinet for the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan. The cabinet members appointed are all from the Taliban ranks despite promises of an inclusive government. Many of the senior figures in the cabinet including the interior minister are on the FBI wanted list. The cabinet is male-dominated and consists of only Mullahs. According to the list the new prime minister will be Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, one of the founding members of the Taliban and close to Mullah Omar the original leader of Taliban. Mullah Omar’s son, Mullah Yaqoob will be the defence minister. The new cabinet is heavily dominated by the Pashtoon ethnic group that formed the original power base for the Taliban but makes up only 40% of Afghanistan’s population.

The world shouldn’t recognize the new Afghan cabinet firstly, because it isn’t an inclusive government at all, women and minorities are missing. Secondly, it is dominated by one ethnic group with a fear of genocide of the minority ethnic group especially the Hazaras. But the recent heated attacks on Panjsher where communication and supplies were suspended shows that Panjsheris are also under a threat of a genocide. Haroun Rahimi, a law professor at the American University of Afghanistan said ‘ it won’t help with domestic legitimacy, it won’t help with international recognition, it will not help ease the resistance and won’t help the government to run smoothly’ pointing out to the homogenous nature of the cabinet members who are Mullahs with little or no expertise in their portfolio.
Pakistan for two decades provided shelter and supplies to the Taliban and is now accused of filling the vaccum. According to the national resistance front Pakistan and ISI is helping the Taliban with drones, helicopters and advanced weaponry for the fall of the last standing province – Panjsher. The secret meeting of ISI chief Faiz Hameed with the Taliban after the fall of Afghanistan confirms Pakistan’s backing and interference in the region which is a big threat to its neighbors.
The world mustn’t internalize and normalize a terrorist group forming the government of a country.