The new leaders of the Jamiat-e- Islami Party of Afghanistan (Islamic Society of Afghanistan) were appointed on Monday.

The appointments were as follows: Salahuddin Rabbani as temporary Head of Party, Ahmad Zia Massoud and Kalimullah Naqibi as Deputies, Atta Mohammad Noor as President of the Executive Council, Wasil Noor Momand as Secretary Chief, Abdul Sattar Murad as Chairman of the Political Committee and Waqif Hakimi as Spokesman.

The newly appointed leaders find themselves at the helm of a party that saw the assassination of its head, Burhanuddin Rabbani, 20 months ago.

The leading members said that this decision took place after a series of consultations with members of Jamiat-e- Islami.

"We chose these new leaders on the basis of consultations with Jamiat-e- Islami Party members and we all agreed on this selection," said Ahmad Zia Massoud, head of the National Front Party and newly appointed deputy of Jamiat-e- Islami.

Members of the Jamiat-e- Islami Party maintained that their party will play an important role in the upcoming presidential elections, and one of their members will be a presidential nominee.

"The Jamiat-e- Islami Party has a candidate in the election and will more broadly play an important role. We are working on a strategy for participation," said Salahuddin Rabbani, the newly chosen temporary head of the party.

In the mean time, the Jamiat-e- Islami has been involved in discussions with the current government about peace negotiations with armed oppositions and the opening of the Taliban's office in Qatar.

"We cannot call Peace negotiations in Qatar a failed process, the Afghan government demanded the bringing down of the Taliban flag, and the flag and the boards were brought down. Now the Taliban is consulting and after some days they [Taliban] will declare their decision and if they [Taliban] are not present for negotiations with the High Peace Council then the Qatar office will be closed," Rabbani added.

The newly appointed leaders of the Jamiat-e- Islami said that the party will appoint permanent leaders at their general assembly after the presidential election is held.

Former President of Afghanistan, Burhanuddin Rabbani, led the party from 1968 to 2011

Rabbani was assassinated September 19, 2011 by a Taliban suicide bomber posing as a peace envoy. He was the head of the Afghan High Peace Council at the time.