Interim arrangement likely till Loya Jirga meets; flights resume

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 5

Even as some domestic passenger flights were resumed to and from Kabul, Taliban fighters on Sunday stepped up assault on the last remaining pocket of resistance. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who heads the anti-Taliban forces in Panjshir, appealed for humanitarian aid to help those displaced.

A senior Taliban spokesman tweeted that Taliban troops had overrun Rokha district, one of the largest of eight districts in Panjshir, even as the National Resistance Front said it had trapped some Taliban fighters in a narrow gorge at the mouth of Panjshir Valley. There was no conclusive evidence from either side to establish their claims.

Meanwhile, the delay in announcing the leadership in Kabul continues. A Taliban leader reiterated that a supreme leader (Amir al-Mu’minin) would be the spiritual head of Afghanistan and there would be a PM to run the government, but there were no further details on the government composition.

Sources close to the Taliban say the new government could be an interim arrangement and a Loya Jirga could be convened to form a permanent government. The western countries and India, even Pakistan, Russia and China, have called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government.

Pakistan hosted a virtual conference with Afghanistan’s neighbours — Iran, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Except for China, the majority ethnic community of these countries spills over to Afghanistan and most are keen that the Pashtun-dominated Taliban include their representatives in a future government.

Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq said they discussed the situation in Afghanistan, especially the need for security and stability. The Taliban attempted to signal normalcy by resuming the operations of Ariana Afghan Airlines while it holds talks with Qatar for technical assistance to begin full-fledged operations.

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