Denying any differences over government formation in Afghanistan, the Taliban on Monday said that they will announce a new government soon as “some technical things are left” . Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson of the militant outfit, said at a press conference that the new Afghan government would be announced and it could be an interim arrangement in view of the changes that may be needed in future, say reports.
“Final decisions have been taken, we are now working on the technical issues. We will announce the new government as soon as the technical issues are resolved,” Mujahid said, reports news agency Reuters.
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This statement comes amid reports that there has been a power struggle going on between two senior Taliban leaders— the group’s co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Anas Haqqani of the Haqqani group, that is known to have a tacit backing of Pakistan. Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed also arrived in Kabul reportedly to broker peace between the two groups.
Faiz reportedly rushed to Kabul after Baradar was reportedly injured in a clash with ally Haqqani, according to a Times Of India report. An unverified Twitter handle callled Panjshir Observer said that the gunfire heard last Friday was over the power struggle tussle between the two senior leaders.
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“Gunfire last night in Kabul was a power struggle between two senior Taliban leaders. Forces loyal to Anas Haqqani and Mullah Baradar fought over a disagreement on how to resolve the #Panjshir situation. Mullah Baradar was reportedly injured and is receiving treatment in Pakistan,” Panjshir Observer tweeted on Saturday.
The power tussle comes amid reports of a US general’s warning of a civil war in the country. US General Mark Milley has said that there is a very good probability of a broader civil war in the country, reports Fox news.
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I think there’s at least a very good probability of a broader civil war,” said Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “That will then in turn lead to conditions that could, in fact, lead to a reconstitution of al-Qaida or a growth of ISIS (Islamic group),” he told Fox News Saturday.