Taliban
Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhunzada has told the newly formed Afghanistan
government to uphold the sharia law in the country, the militant organization said
in a statement on Tuesday.

“In the
future, all issues of governance and life in Afghanistan will be governed by
the laws of holy sharia,” AFP quoted a statement from the Taliban.

“I
assure all the countrymen that the figures will work hard towards upholding
Islamic rules and sharia law in the country,” Mullah Mohammad Hassan
Akhund said in his first statement after being announced as the head of the new
Afghan government.

The Taliban
co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar has been named as one of the two deputies to
Akhund. The other deputy will be Abdul Salam Hanafi, who is a member of the
group’s political office based in Doha, chief Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah
Mujahid said. The group announced a total of 19 ministries, three directorates,
seven deputy ministers, and army chief.

Mullah
Hassan belongs to Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban. He has also worked
for 20 years as head of Rehbari Shura and has been close to Mullah Hebatullah.

He also
served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister during the Taliban’s
previous government in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

Pakistan
local media said that Mulla Yaqoob, son of the Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad
Omar, will be the new defence minister.

Sirajuddin
Haqqani is likely to be given the portfolio of interior minister, while Mullah
Ameer Khan Muttaqi is expected to be the new foreign minister.

The Taliban
have pledged to form an “inclusive” government representing
Afghanistan’s ethnic makeup. Whether women will be given the top level jobs
remains to be seen.

The Taliban
last week postponed the formation of a new government as the insurgent group
struggles to give shape to a broad-based and inclusive administration
acceptable to the international community.