Taliban name deputy ministers, double down on all-male team

KABUL – The Taliban expanded their interim Cabinet by naming lawman ministers Tuesday, but failed to name immoderate women, doubling down connected a hard-line people contempt the planetary outcry that followed their archetypal presumption of an all-male Cabinet lineup earlier this month.

The planetary assemblage has warned that it volition justice the Taliban by their actions, and that designation of a Taliban-led authorities would beryllium linked to the attraction of women and minorities. In their erstwhile regularisation of Afghanistan successful the precocious 1990s, the Taliban had barred girls and women from schools, enactment and nationalist life.

Taliban authorities spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid defended the latest additions to the Cabinet astatine a quality league Tuesday, saying it included members of taste minorities, specified arsenic the Hazaras, and that women mightiness beryllium added later.

Mujahid bristled astatine planetary conditions for recognition, saying determination was nary crushed for withholding it. “It is the work of the United Nations to admit our authorities (and) for different countries, including European, Asian and Islamic countries, to person diplomatic relations with us,” helium said.

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The Taliban person framed their existent Cabinet arsenic an interim government, suggesting that alteration was inactive possible, but they person not said if determination would ever beryllium elections.

Mujahid was besides asked astir the caller restrictions imposed connected girls and women, including a determination not to let girls successful grades six to 12 to instrumentality to classrooms for the clip being.

Mujahid suggested this was a impermanent decision, and that “soon it volition beryllium announced erstwhile they tin spell to school.” He said plans were being made to let for their return, but did not elaborate.

Boys successful grades six to 12 resumed their studies implicit the weekend.

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