Pretoria has ruled out the possibility of taking in Afghan refugees.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation indicates that it’s unable to fulfil the request for the refugees to be temporarily accommodated in South Africa as they make their way to their final destinations. It says that South Africa is already seized with addressing the needs of thousands of refugees who are in the country.

A number of Afghans have taken refuge in Pakistan following the Taliban’s return to power.

Meanwhile consensus is said to have been reached on the formation of a new government in Afghanistan. A member of the Taliban’s cultural commission Bilal Karimi says an announcement can be expected in the coming days as the talks of an inclusive government have concluded.

The Taliban and other Afghan leaders had been locked in talks as the US occupation forces withdrew from the country.

It’s speculated that the Taliban’s supreme commander Hai-batullah Akhund-zada will lead the governing council. Mullah Abdul Ghani Bara-dar who has been the public face of the Taliban, is likely to oversee the daily affairs of the government.

Last month the American backed government of President Ashraf Ghani rapidly collapsed as the Taliban made its advances to the capital Kabul. Washington’s abrupt withdrawal after 20 years of futile war is said to have aided the Taliban’s takeover.

[Picture: GCIS]