The Taliban dissolved Afghanistan’s two election commissions as well as the state ministries for peace and parliamentarian affairs, an official said Sunday.

Bilal Karimi, the deputy spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban-run government, confirmed the same, saying the country’s Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaint Commission have been dissolved.

He called them “unnecessary institutes for the current situation in Afghanistan.” He said if there is a need for the commissions in the future, the Taliban government can revive them.

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The international community is currently waiting before extending formal recognition to Afghanistan’s new rulers. They are wary the Taliban could impose a similarly harsh regime as when they were in power 20 years ago — despite their assurances to the contrary. In fact, Afghanistan has been facing an economic crisis because the assets abroad have been frozen until the Taliban government gains formal recognition and acknowledgement in the global forum. 

Both elections commissions were previously mandated to administer and supervise all types of elections in the country, including presidential, parliamentary and provincial council elections.

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Karimi said the Taliban also dissolved the Ministry for Peace and the Ministry of Parliamentarian Affairs. He said they were unnecessary ministries in the government’s current structure. Previously, the Taliban had also shut down the former Women’s Affairs Ministry.

This move comes just two days after the US Treasury Department announced the issuance of special licenses to ensure international aid flowed to Afghanistan. The Biden led government also made a similar proposal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for “payment of funds, other financial assets or economic resources, and the provision of goods and services necessary to ensure the timely delivery of such assistance or to support such activities are permitted.” At the same time, the proposal clearly outlined that it did not break any sanctions placed upon the Taliban.  

[Edited with AP Inputs]