Afghan Government Formation

Special envoys of China, Russia, and Pakistan have met the top officials of the interim Taliban government as well as Afghan leaders in Kabul and discussed the formation of an inclusive government, combating terrorism, a top Chinese official said.

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a lesser known Taliban leader who is on a UN terror list, could be the next Prime Minister of Afghanistan as the Taliban tries to settle on a compromise candidate amid disagreements.

A relatively lesser known Taliban leader, Mullah Hassan Akhund, seen as a "lightweight" and who is on a UN terror list, could be the unlikely choice as the next Prime Minister of Afghanistan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday did not respond to a media report claiming that the Taliban has invited China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar to attend the new government formation ceremony in Afghanistan.

Rifts within the Taliban are delaying a new Afghan government, sources said Monday, blaming increasing discord between the Islamist group's Doha and Haqqani factions and the latter's reported refusal to accept Akhundzada as the 'supreme leader'.

Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, is in Kabul to meet the Taliban leadership, which is in advanced stage of government formation.

The formation of a new Afghan government by the Taliban, which was to be announced on Friday, has now been delayed by a day, according to the spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

The Taliban and other Afghan leaders have reached a "consensus" on the formation of a new government and cabinet under the leadership of the group's top spiritual leader, an official said.

Some of the Taliban's top leaders are gathering in Kabul to discuss the formation of a new Afghan government -- including a representative from the Haqqani network, the country's most feared terrorists.

Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates have signed a deal to cooperate on the formation of a government of national unity, one of the candidates told a news conference following meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday.

Special envoys of China, Russia, and Pakistan have met the top officials of the interim Taliban government as well as Afghan leaders in Kabul and discussed the formation of an inclusive government, combating terrorism, a top Chinese official said.

Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, a lesser known Taliban leader who is on a UN terror list, could be the next Prime Minister of Afghanistan as the Taliban tries to settle on a compromise candidate amid disagreements.

A relatively lesser known Taliban leader, Mullah Hassan Akhund, seen as a "lightweight" and who is on a UN terror list, could be the unlikely choice as the next Prime Minister of Afghanistan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday did not respond to a media report claiming that the Taliban has invited China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar to attend the new government formation ceremony in Afghanistan.

Rifts within the Taliban are delaying a new Afghan government, sources said Monday, blaming increasing discord between the Islamist group's Doha and Haqqani factions and the latter's reported refusal to accept Akhundzada as the 'supreme leader'.

Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, is in Kabul to meet the Taliban leadership, which is in advanced stage of government formation.

The formation of a new Afghan government by the Taliban, which was to be announced on Friday, has now been delayed by a day, according to the spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

The Taliban and other Afghan leaders have reached a "consensus" on the formation of a new government and cabinet under the leadership of the group's top spiritual leader, an official said.

Some of the Taliban's top leaders are gathering in Kabul to discuss the formation of a new Afghan government -- including a representative from the Haqqani network, the country's most feared terrorists.

Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates have signed a deal to cooperate on the formation of a government of national unity, one of the candidates told a news conference following meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday.