Hamid Karzai, the newly elected President of Afghanistan, is expected to announce the names of his cabinet members today. Yesterday, Mr. Karzai told the Loya Jirga, or Council of Elders of Afghanistan, that he needed one more day to complete the list of cabinet members. He also stated that he wishes to officially take the oath of office as the President of the Transitional Government of Afghanistan after introducing his cabinet members. Mr. Karzai's advisors say there is no need for the Loya Jirga to approve the cabinet proposed by the presidency. However, Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, says that according to the Bonn Agreement signed last year, this council must have the final say on key cabinet positions. In another development, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan states that he believes it will take at least another year to completely eliminate the remnants of the Taliban and the terrorist network al-Qaeda and to establish the Afghan National Army. General Dan McNeill, in an interview with The New York Times, also mentioned that stability in Afghanistan seems to be establishing itself at a faster pace than expected.
Hamid Karzai Expected to Announce Cabinet Members Today - 2002-06-19
Hamid Karzai is set to announce his cabinet members today, following a request for more time from the Loya Jirga. U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad emphasizes the council's role in approving key cabinet positions. This development is crucial as it marks a significant step in Afghanistan's political transition post-Taliban.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hamid Karzai is expected to announce his cabinet members today after requesting additional time from the Loya Jirga. The U.S. envoy emphasizes the council's role in approving key positions, highlighting the importance of this political transition.
- Karzai is set to take the oath of office after introducing his cabinet.
- The Loya Jirga's approval is considered necessary for key cabinet positions according to the Bonn Agreement.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban, Afghanistan is in a critical phase of establishing a new government structure, with traditional councils like the Loya Jirga playing a significant role.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%