Afghan women protest against all-male government as Taliban takes office

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In the capital Kabul, a small rally on Wednesday was quickly dispersed by armed Taliban security, while Afghan media reported a protest in the northeastern city of Faizabad was also broken up.

Hundreds protested on Tuesday, both in the capital and in the city of Herat, where two people at the demonstration site were shot dead.

Late Wednesday, the Taliban moved to snuff out further protests, issuing an order saying prior authorisation will be needed from the justice ministry and warning that violators "will face severe legal action".

And "for the time being", demonstrations are not allowed - at all.

The announcement of the government Tuesday night was a key step in the Taliban's consolidation of power over Afghanistan, following a stunning military victory that saw them oust the US-backed administration on 15 August.

Notorious for their brutal and oppressive rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban had promised a more inclusive government this time.

However, all the top positions were handed to key leaders from the movement and the Haqqani network, the most violent faction of the Taliban known for devastating attacks.

Afghan women hold banners and placards as they take part in an anti-Pakistan protest in Kabul on September 8, 2021. Source: AFP

'Same as the old Taliban'

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a senior minister during the Taliban's reign in the 1990s was appointed interim prime minister, the group's chief spokesman announced.

Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister, while the position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network.

The movement's co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement in 2020, was appointed deputy prime minister.

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None of the government appointees were women.

"We will try to take people from other parts of the country," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, adding that it was an interim government.

But Bill Roggio, managing editor of the US-based Long War Journal, tweeted: "The new Taliban, same as the old Taliban".

1) The Taliban announced its "interim" government. Meet the new Taliban, same as the old Taliban. Many of the "new leaders" were leaders pre-9/11, and are on UN sanctions list. No surpriseshere: Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada is the emir. More follows.https://t.co/J58zUdOs4J

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Legitimacy must be 'earned'

The Taliban had made repeated pledges in recent days to rule with greater moderation than they did in their last stint in power.

But Mr Zabihullah announced the reinstatement of the feared Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice which from 1996 to 2001 was responsible for arresting and punishing people for failing to implement the movement's restrictive interpretation of sharia law.

Even as the Taliban consolidate power, they face the monumental task of ruling Afghanistan, which is wracked with economic woes and security challenges including from the Islamic State group's local chapter.

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In Germany, Mr Blinken said the ministerial talks were the "starting point for international coordination" on how to deal with the Taliban.

Among the countries that participated in the virtual meeting were European allies and historic Taliban backer Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a joint press conference with the German Foreign Minister at the US Airbase in Ramstein. Source: picture alliance

"The Taliban seek international legitimacy. Any legitimacy, any support, will have to be earned," Mr Blinken told reporters.

The European Union said the "caretaker" government failed to honour vows from the new rulers to include different groups.

China meanwhile said it welcomed the end of "three weeks of anarchy", adding it "attaches great importance" to the announcement of an interim government.

20 years, 2 trillion dollars & countless American lives were spent in Afghanistan.

Now, the “leader of the free world” is going to wait around and see how China & the Taliban collaborate.

This is not what we fought for. pic.twitter.com/AyKzTAl6DU

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Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China hoped the Taliban would "pursue moderate and steady domestic and foreign policies, resolutely crack down on all kinds of terrorist forces, and get along well with all countries, especially neighbouring countries".

Qatar, the central intermediary between the Taliban and the international community in recent years, said the Taliban had demonstrated "pragmatism" of late.

"Let's seize the opportunities there," Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah al-Khater told AFP, but she stopped short of announcing formal recognition of the government.

Former president Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country on the 15th of August as the Taliban entered Kabul, apologised Wednesday to the Afghan people for how his rule ended.

Mr Ghani said he left at the urging of the palace security in order to avoid the risk of bloody street fighting, and again denied stealing millions from the treasury.

"I apologise to the Afghan people that I could not make it end differently," he said on Twitter.

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