Former leaders associated with the erstwhile US-backed Afghan government will not be included in the Taliban government, the group’s deputy leader Mullah Baradar said, indicating the new regime is unlikely to heed the demand for inclusivity.   

“The Islamic Emirate [the name the Taliban refers to its government] will not include members of the fallen republic government in its cabinet,” Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is one of the two deputy prime ministers in the Taliban's interim government, said in an interview with Radio-Television of Afghanistan (RTA).  

After its return to power in August last year, the hardline Islamist group has failed to form an inclusive government, comprising all ethnicities. The international community has also conditioned the regime’s acceptance with a series of demands, including the formation of an inclusive government.

Human rights, including those of women’s right to work and education, are among the top demands of the international community. 

Bardar termed the former officials as “corrupt” and argued that their participation in the government will harm the regime’s image. 

“These people cannot be with us in the government, because even if they are five (even if only five people are included), they will harm our government's standing and we don’t want our government to be brought down by such people,” he said in the interview, as per reported by TOLOnews. 

On demands being pressed by the world community, Baradar said, “The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) has fulfilled the requirements for the recognition, and the world should have recognized it.” 

So far, the group’s attitude remains where it thinks that it is the responsibility of the international community to give them recognition. Knowing well that Afghanistan is impossible to govern without significant international aid, the Taliban’s intransigency is worsening the humanitarian crisis in the country. 

Experts say the group seems to be using the humanitarian crisis to pressure the international community to recognize them and release the things they need most: cash. 

In what seems a confirmation of the notion, Baradar warned in the interview the prevailing economic crisis will not only affect Afghanistan but will also have negative consequences for the neighboring countries and the world. 

On girls’ education, Baradar said it was the right of everyone to have access to education, and economic problems and moral issues were two issues ahead of the reopening of the universities.  

“The education sector needs a strong economy, when economic challenges are resolved we will provide educational facilities for all those who want to pursue their studies,” he said. 

(SAM)