Taliban name deputy ministers in all-male team

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid gives a press conference in Kabul, on Tuesday. Pic/AP

The Taliban expanded their interim Cabinet by naming more ministers and deputies on Tuesday, but failed to appoint any women, doubling down on a hard-line course despite the international outcry that followed their initial presentation of an all-male government lineup this month. The international community has said that it will judge the Taliban by their actions, and that recognition of a Taliban-led government would be linked to the treatment of women and minorities.

At a news conference Tuesday, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held out the possibility of adding women to the Cabinet at a later time, but gave no specifics. He also said the Taliban are preparing rules for allowing teen-age girls and women to return to schools and jobs in line with Islamic law, but did not say when that might happen. Mujahid defended the latest additions to the Cabinet, saying they included members of ethnic minorities, such as the Hazaras. He said the deputies were chosen for their technical skills.

Pak in ‘constant touch' with Afghan Taliban

Pakistan is in "constant touch" with the Afghan Taliban for safeguarding its security interests, a top military official said. "Taliban have reiterated on several occasions no group or terrorist organisation will be allowed to use Afghan territory for any terrorist activity against any country, including Pakistan. We have no reason to doubt their intentions, and that is why we are in constant touch with them to protect our national interest," military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar told Urdu News.

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