Taliban
Taliban's action will define the trajectory of relationship with US: Blinken
Kabul/Washington: The trajectory of US relationship with the Taliban government will depend upon the action of the insurgents.
"The Taliban says it seeks international legitimacy and international support. And that will depend entirely on what it does, not just on what it says. And the trajectory of its relationship with us and with the rest of the world will depend on its actions," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Tolo News.
"Now, the Taliban has made a series of commitments, publicly and privately, including with regard to freedom of travel, with regard to combatting terrorism and not allowing Afghanistan to be used a launching point for terrorism directed at us or at anyone else, including as well upholding the basic rights of the Afghan people, to include women and girls and minorities, to have some inclusivity in government, to avoid reprisals. And these are very important commitments," he said.
"The international community has also set clear expectations of the Taliban-led government. More than 100 countries signed onto a statement that we initiated on those very commitments. The United Nations Security Council has made clear its expectations. And so for us – and not just for us, for many countries around the world – the nature of the relationship with the government going forward will depend on the actions it takes," he said.
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, while the position of interior minister was bestowed in Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network.
"The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul.
"We will try to take people from other parts of the country."
The Taliban took over the South Asian country on August 15.
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