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The speed of the US ‘Kabul rescue operation’… “Taliban, Formation of 12 Members of Afghanistan Ruler” (Comprehensive 2nd edition)

People boarding an American evacuation plane at Kabul Airport.  [AP=연합뉴스 자료 사진]

picture explanationPeople boarding an American evacuation plane at Kabul Airport. [AP=연합뉴스 자료 사진]

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U.S. troops, who are running out of time to withdraw troops from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, are speeding up the evacuation of civilians.

The Taliban, which is about to face a decisive battle with the resistance, is accelerating the task of forming a new government, such as forming a framework for a high-level decision-making body while simultaneously conducting key government positions.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd (local time), Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he had dispatched helicopters and special forces to Kabul to transport 350 Americans whose airport access was blocked in Afghanistan.

The New York Times pointed out that this is a change in the Pentagon’s policy, which has limited the scope of control of the US military to Kabul Airport and that in order to evacuate, they must arrive at the airport on their own.

US President Joe Biden has left open the possibility that US troops will be stationed after the 31st deadline for withdrawal, but the Taliban strongly opposes it.

According to reports, CIA Director William Burns had secret talks with Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is considered to be the de facto leader of the Taliban, in Kabul the day before.

The Washington Post (WP) speculates that at the meeting, plans to extend the deadline for evacuating Americans and Afghans who cooperated with the United States beyond the 31st of this month may have been discussed.

Taliban officials meet with former Afghan government officials in Kabul, Afghanistan.[AP=연합뉴스 자료사진]

picture explanationTaliban officials meet with former Afghan government officials in Kabul, Afghanistan.[AP=연합뉴스 자료사진]

The Taliban continued to work on the formation of a new government.

Citing Afghan news agency Pajihawk, Reuters reported that the Taliban had appointed Gul Agha and Sadr Ibrahim, respectively, to act as finance and interior ministers on the same day.

Najibula was nominated as head of intelligence, and Mullah Sirin and Hamdullah Nomani were appointed as governor of Kabul and mayor of Kabul, respectively.

On the 22nd, the Taliban appointed Haji Mohammad Idris as acting central bank governor.

There is also a prospect that the Taliban leadership will form a government through a so-called ’12-member committee’.

Foreign Policy, a US diplomatic media outlet, reported on the previous day that the three most powerful members of the committee were Baradar, Mullah Muhammad Yakub, and Khalil Haqani, all known as criminals or terrorists.

Yakub, who oversees the Taliban’s military operations, is the son of Mullah Muhammad Omar, the founder of the Taliban, and Haqqani is a high-ranking member of the Haqqani Network, a Taliban affiliated organization.

Russia’s Sputnik news agency also reported that an agreement had already been reached on seven of the 12 members of the committee, citing an official.

The list released by Sputnik includes Baradar, Yakub, and Haqqani, as well as former President Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah Chairman of the Supreme Council for Afghan National Reconciliation (HCNR), Hanif Atmar and Gulbudin Hekmatiar, who served as Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs. Former Prime Minister and others.

If this is true, the 12-member group, which will serve as a high-level decision-making body, includes several Afghan government officials in addition to Taliban officials.

After the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital of Kabul on the 15th and re-established power in 20 years, the Taliban issued a conciliatory message, including an amnesty, and emphasized that the new government would be comprehensively formed.

Resistance forces gather in Panjisir against the Taliban [AFP=연합뉴스]

picture explanationResistance forces gather in Panjisir against the Taliban [AFP=연합뉴스]

The anti-Taliban resistance forces are preparing for a decisive battle under the siege of the Taliban by gathering in the Panjisir Valley, the historical and last stronghold that fought against foreign forces.

The leader of this force is Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who is called the ‘national wealth’ of Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Resistance Front (NRF), led by Massoud, said it was ready to fight the Taliban, saying it had already secured thousands of troops despite the Taliban offensive.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted: “We have neutralized the militants in the Bannu, Pulehesar and Desala regions of Baglan Province.”

These areas were the places where government troops and local militia positions were established.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s domestic economy is in a state of panic and is collapsing.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), after the Afghan government was overthrown by the Taliban on the 15th, banks and currency exchange offices were closed and unemployment soared.

The price of daily necessities also skyrocketed. Prices of flour and cooking oil rose up to 50%.

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kyunghee@yna.co.kr

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