THE Taliban announced Tuesday night the formation of Afghanistan’s caretaker government, with Mullah Hassan Akhund appointed as the acting prime minister.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Salam Hanafi were named as the acting deputy prime ministers, while Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of the late Taliban co-founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, was appointed as the acting defense minister.

Amir Khan Muttaqi was appointed as the acting foreign minister, Sarajuddin Haqqani, son of the founder of the Haqqani network, was named as the acting interior minister and Abas Stanikzai as the acting deputy foreign minister, the Taliban spokesman said.

Mujahid said that the appointments of the interim government were not final as these were acting positions, and the remaining posts would be announced at a later date.

The move was aimed at carrying out necessary government work, he said, stressing that it was an “acting” government and the group would try to take people from other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Taliban’s Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said the newly formed caretaker government will start functioning soon.

“As a caretaker and committed Cabinet has been announced by authorities of the Islamic Emirate to control and run affairs of the country, which will start functioning at the earliest, I assure all countrymen that the figures will work hard towards Islamic rules and Sharia law,” Akhundzada said in a statement.

This is the first statement issued by the Taliban supreme leader since Taliban’s takeover of capital Kabul in mid August.

“We want to have peaceful, prosperous and self-reliant Afghanistan, for which we will strive to eliminate all causes of war and strife in the country, and our countrymen to live in complete security and comfort,” he said.

He told Afghans that the ultimate goal of the new authorities would be to “put the country on its feet as soon as possible” and rebuild the country.

During the past two decades, the U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan have caused more than 30,000 civilian deaths, and turned about 11 million people into refugees, leaving Afghanistan in desperate need of stability and rehabilitation. (Xinhua)