Afghanistan: Taliban names new Cabinet members, no women included

According to Xinhua news agency, the newly introduced Cabinet members have been appointed in line with the decree of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, Mujahid said, adding a veteran businessman, Hajji Nurudin Azizi, has been appointed as acting minister for commerce, and Dr Qalandar Ebad as the acting minister for public health.

Speaking at a press conference, Zabihullah Mujahid, the deputy minister for information and culture, said, "The newly introduced members of the Cabinet are professional personalities including doctors and highly educated persons, also from minorities.”

While the list of newly inducted Cabinet members does not include and women, Mujahid said that the caretaker cabinet is working towards addressing women's demands for work and education.

"We are working to complete the procedures so that girls can resume their education," he said.

Meanwhile, quoting figures by several watchdog organizations, Tolo News reported that 153 media outlets have stopped operation in the last month for various reasons, including lack of access to information and budget issues.

Responding to a question on the Afghan media outlets, the Taliban spokesman said, “Media are important and we support the media. There have been some problems in provinces that are being addressed."

(With UNI inputs)