Taliban appoints Shiite to leadership position to improve image before international community

Mustafa Kamel

After the Taliban’s complete control over the reins of power in Afghanistan, the movement announced the formation of an interim government composed entirely of men, in which it appointed personalities classified internationally as terrorists, in addition to the exclusion of many leaders of the Afghan component. But it has recently sought to improve its image in order to obtain international recognition, as it appointed a Shiite from the Hazara minority to a leadership position, despite the relationship between the movement and the sect, which has been tense since the 1990s due to the movement’s targeting of Hazaras.

Trying to improve image

The Washington Post said that the Afghan movement has appointed Mahdi Mujahid, 33, as the head of intelligence in the Shiite-majority Bamyan province.

According to the Washington Post’s report, the movement gave Mujahid the nickname Mawlawi, and the Taliban’s handling of the Hazaras in its new rule represents a measure of knowing the truth of the movement’s claim that it has changed from its previous approach, as the movement established special courts for Shiites and sent Mawlawi Mahdi as its envoy in the Hazara region to achieve its goal of attracting the support of minorities.

“It could have sent a much stronger message,” said Ashley Jackson, a Taliban expert at the Overseas Development Institute. “Accountability is more beneficial to people. The appointment of Mahdi is part of the public relations efforts… It all seems to be a cosmetic attempt.”

For his part, Bilal Karimi, a deputy spokesman for the Taliban, said, “Mawlawi Mahdi follows the orders and rules of the Islamic Emirate… People are very happy with him because of his service. He is a very loyal person.”

During a statement issued by the foreign ministers meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors held in Tehran on Wednesday, October 29, with the participation of the six countries neighboring Afghanistan (Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan), in addition to Russia, the meeting stressed the need for a national Afghan government with the participation of all ethnic groups as the only solution to Afghanistan’s problems. They called for resolving the dispute among Afghans through dialogue, and they also called on the Taliban to fulfill its obligations to the international community and not allow neighboring countries to be threatened from Afghan territory.

Appeasement government

Following the meeting held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on September 8, the Taliban announced several new appointments to include a number of components of Afghan society in the government, but Afghan women were absent from the movement’s appointments. The Taliban’s announcement came a day after Chinese, Russian and Pakistani envoys met with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund to demand more inclusive rule.

The list of new appointees revealed a trivial response by the Taliban to international calls for a national unity government that includes the components of Afghan society. Most of the new appointees either have no previous affiliation to the group or are not prominent members of it.

After the announcement on September 22, the Taliban government included four Tajiks, two Uzbeks, one Turkmen, one Hazara, one Nuristani (an ethnic group native to Nuristan Province), and one of Arab origin, out of a total of 53 members.