Mullah Baradar, the head of the Taliban's political office, will lead the new government in Afghanistan, at least three sources in the Islamist group said on Friday. Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the son of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai will take senior positions in the government, the sources said. Local media too reported on Friday that Mullah Baradar, the co-founder of the Taliban group, will lead the new government,. Local Afghan media Tolo news quoted sources as saying that the co-founder of the Taliban group Mullah Baradar will lead the Afghan government that is to be announced shortly. Mullah Baradar led the Taliban's political office in Qatar during the talks with the United States that reached a peace agreement that was signed by both sides to the end the 20-year war in Afghanistan. Mullah Baradar is likely to be joined by Mullah Mohammed Yaqoob, the son of the late Taliban co-founder Mullah Omar, in senior position in the government. All top leaders have arrived in Kabul, where preparations are in the final stages to announce the new government, Tolo news reported. Another source told the media that Haibatullah Akhunzada, the Taliban's supreme religious leader, will focus on religious matters and governance within the framework of Islam. The formation of the Taliban government comes after the Islamist group took over Afghan capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15 and the United States pulled out all its troops from Afghanistan on Aug, 31. — Agencies
