KABUL -- The Taliban is preparing to form a new government as early as the beginning of September with its leaders taking posts in the cabinet, Nikkei Asia learned Thursday.
A senior Taliban leader who spoke to Nikkei on condition of anonymity said that the leadership council, or shura in Pashto, met recently at the presidential palace in Kabul. Two of three deputy chiefs of the organization, Mullah Yaqoob, a son of Taliban founder Mohammed Omar, and Sirajuddin Haqqani have been tasked with finalizing the list of the cabinet. One of the two is expected to assume the post of prime minister.
