The Taliban look to announce Afghanistan's new government in the coming days. Top Taliban members, senior officials from the old U.S.-backed administration and leaders from other influential groups have reached a consensus on a new government and cabinet.

"We're about to announce a functioning cabinet and government in a few days, not weeks," said Bilal Karimi, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission.

The group celebrated its triumph with a parade Wednesday in the Taliban heartland, near the city of Kandahar,showing off Humvees and other military equipment captured from the U.S. A Black Hawk helicopter flew overhead with a Taliban flag hanging from the side.

But attention will need to turn soon to rebuilding Afghanistan's broken economy, and questions remain about whether the "inclusive" government promised by the Islamic fundamentalist group will be sufficiently open to women and outsiders to satisfy a skeptical international community.

The Taliban have promised to ensure the public's safety and respect women's rights and opportunities for work and education, but much remains uncertain days before the formation of a new government.

Chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Tuesday that the group wants to "have good relations with the U.S. and the world," stressing the need for international support to rebuild Afghanistan's struggling economy.