The Taliban is all set to form the government in the country on Friday after nearly two weeks of occupation of Afghanistan. Sources said that the Taliban will form the government in Afghanistan after Friday prayers.

With the capture of the capital Kabul on 15 August, the Taliban took control of the whole of Afghanistan. The Islamic terrorist group celebrated its victory following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, while also reiterating its pledge to bring peace and security to the country after decades of war.

The Taliban, which took control of the country before the withdrawal of US forces this week, is now hoping to rule a nation that relies heavily on international aid because of its dire economic conditions.

Country reeling from the devastation of drought and conflict

In the eyes of international donors and investors, the legitimacy of the new government will be crucial for the economy as the country grapples with drought and the devastation of a conflict that has killed some 240,000 Afghans.

The Taliban have promised to allow a safe passage out of the country for any foreigners or Afghans who have not been able to leave despite a massive airlift, which ended on Monday with the withdrawal of the last US troops. However, with Kabul airport still closed, a large number of people are trying to flee the plains to neighboring countries.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that the Gulf state is talking with the Taliban and is working with Turkey about technical assistance to resume operations at Kabul Airport, providing humanitarian assistance. And possibly more withdrawals will be facilitated.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, speaking at a joint news conference with Qatar’s minister in Doha, said he would talk with regional countries on how to create a safe passage through third countries for those wishing to leave Afghanistan.

“The operationalization of Kabul Airport and the safe evacuation of foreign nationals and Afghans is at the top of our agenda,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

A senior Taliban official told Reuters last month that the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibtollah Akhundzada, would be the supreme leader and the president would work under him.

Crashing economy

Many human rights organizations have warned of devastation in the country in the form of a severe drought and the turmoil of the war has forced thousands of families to flee their homes.

At the moment, Afghanistan is in dire need of money, and the Taliban are unlikely to have fast access to the nearly $10 billion in assets, mostly held abroad by the Afghan Central Bank.

The new central bank chief appointed by the Taliban has tried to reassure banks that the group wants a fully functioning financial system, but has given little information about how it will provide the needed liquidity.

In a report by rating agency Fitch Group’s research firm Fitch Solutions, analysts said Afghanistan’s real GDP is expected to shrink by 9.7% this fiscal, with a further decline of 5.2% next year.