Taliban appoints central bank chief as prices rise, cash runs out

Acting Afghan central bank governor Mohammad Idris’s qualifications and experience with monetary policy remain unknown.

The Taliban appointed an obscure official, Mohammad Idris, as acting governor of Afghanistan’s central bank, even as signs emerge of a financial crunch, with ATMs running out of cash and prices of essential goods spiraling. Idris will “address the looming banking issues and the problems of the people,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said on Twitter. Idris headed the group’s economic commission, Muhammad Jalal, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission, said in a text message. His educational and professional qualification or experience in dealing with monetary, currency and banking policy remains unknown.