Afghanistan-Taliban Crisis Updates: The Taliban may announce their cabinet, sources told AFP. (File)
The Taliban may announce their cabinet Friday, sources said, with a sceptical world watching for clues on whether the new regime will keep its promises to Afghanistan -- particularly for women -- while facing enormous economic hurdles, reported news agency AFP.
The announcement, which two Taliban sources told AFP could come after Friday afternoon prayers, would take place amid deep mistrust of the Islamists as they shift gears from insurgent group to governing power, days after the United States fully withdrew its troops and ended their 20-year war.
The West has adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban going forward, but there were some signs of unfreezing as Western Union announced it was restarting money transfers, and Qatar said it was working to reopen the airport in Kabul -- a lifeline for aid.
Britain Says Wants To Engage With Taliban
Britain will not recognise the Taliban as the new government in Kabul but must deal with the new realities in Afghanistan and does not want to see the social and economic fabric of the country broken, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday.
Read HereEU to establish Kabul 'presence' if security allows: Foreign policy chief
EU countries agreed to reestablish a joint presence in Kabul if security allows to deal with the Taliban on ensuring safe passage departures, the bloc's top diplomat said Friday.
"We have decided to work in a coordinated manner to coordinate our contacts with the Talibans -- including through a joint European Union presence in Kabul... if the security conditions are met," foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
UAE Sends Plane Carrying "Medical And Food Aid" To Afghanistan: Report
The United Arab Emirates sent a plane carrying "urgent medical and food aid" to Afghanistan on Friday, the official WAM news agency said, nearly three weeks after the Taliban's takeover.
The "assistance comes within the framework of the humanitarian role being played by the UAE to provide full support to brotherly Afghan people in such current circumstances," WAM said.
The UAE foreign ministry confirmed to AFP that "this is the first (Emirati) aid flight since the recent events in Afghanistan".
Taliban Co-Founder Mullah Baradar To Lead New Afghan Government: Report
Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar will lead a new Afghan government set to be announced shortly, sources in the Islamist group said on Friday, as its fighters battled forces loyal to the vanquished republic in the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul.
The new government's most immediate priority, however, should be to stave off the collapse of an economy grappling with drought and the ravages of a conflict that killed an estimated 240,000 Afghans.
Baradar, who heads the Taliban's political office, will be joined by Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of late Taliban co-founder Mullah Omar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, in senior positions in the government, three sources said.
Afghan domestic flights to resume Friday: Ariana Afghan Airlines
Domestic flights were set to resume in Afghanistan on Friday, the country's flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines said.
"We have received a green light from the Taliban and aviation authorities and plan to start flights today," Tamim Ahmadi, a senior manager with the airline told AFP.
Taliban Says "Have Right To Raise Voice For Muslims In Kashmir": ReportAmid India's concern that Afghanistan territory might be used for anti-India activity under the Taliban regime, the terror group has said that it has the right to raise its voice for Muslims anywhere including in Kashmir. However, it added that the group does not have the policy to raise arms against any country.
In an interview with BBC Urdu, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said: "We have this right, being Muslims, to raise our voice for Muslims in Kashmir, India, and any other country."
"We will raise our voice and say that Muslims are your own people, your own citizens. They are entitled to equal rights under your laws," he added, according to Geo News.
China Promised To Keep Afghan Embassy, Increase Humanitarian Aid: Taliban
A Taliban spokesman said Friday that China has promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar, "held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China," spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.
"The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region," he said.
UK Will Ensure Safe Passage For Those Who Want To Leave Afghanistan: Foreign Secretary
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday met with the evacuees from Afghanistan who are being hosted by Qatar and said that the UK will continue working with their partners in response to the humanitarian plight and ensure safe passage for those who want to leave the war-torn country.
"Today I met evacuees from Afghanistan who are being hosted by our Qatari friends. The UK has already committed 286 million Pound Sterling of life-saving aid & will continue working with our partners in response to the humanitarian plight and ensure safe passage for those who want to leave," Mr Raab tweeted.
On Thursday morning, Mr Raab arrived in Qatar to discuss the Afghanistan situation with Qatar Foreign Minister in Doha.