WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States is evaluating the new Afghan government announced by the Taliban, the State Department said Tuesday.
“We note that the announced list of names consists exclusively of individuals who are members of the Taliban or their close allies and no women,” the State Department said in a statement. “We are also concerned about the affiliations and backgrounds of some of the individuals.”
“We understand that the Taliban have presented this as an interim cabinet. However, we will judge the Taliban by their actions, not their words. We have made clear our expectation that the Afghan people deserve an inclusive government, “he added.
On people attempting to leave Afghanistan, the State Department noted that the United States “will make the Taliban honor its commitment to allow safe transit for foreign nationals and Afghans with travel documents, including allowing flights ready to take off from Afghanistan to agreed destinations ”.
“We also reiterate our clear expectation that the Taliban will ensure that Afghan soil will not be used to threaten any other country and will allow humanitarian access in support of the Afghan people,” he said.