The announcement Tuesday came a day after the Taliban claimed control of the last holdout Afghan province and amid the biggest street protests since the militant group seized control of Afghanistan in mid-August, taking over the capital Kabul and storming the presidential palace without firing a single shot.
Among the hundreds of protesters were women demanding equal rights under Taliban rule and full participation in political life. The demonstrations were broken up by the Taliban, with reports that some protesters were violently beaten and others detained.
Taliban leaders have insisted publicly that women will play a prominent role in society in Afghanistan and have access to education. But they have not been involved in talks over forming a government. In recent weeks, the Taliban has signaled women should stay at home, and, in some instances, militants have ordered women to leave their workplaces.
There was no mention of a ministry for women in Tuesday’s announcement, and Zabihullah would only say that the Taliban would be dealing with that issue.
The US State Department is currently “assessing” the announcement of an interim government, according to a spokesperson. “We note the announced list of names consists exclusively of individuals who are members of the Taliban or their close associates and no women,” they said Tuesday.