Some employees of government institutions under Taliban control in Afghanistan have complained about delays in receiving their salaries. They state that the Taliban paid salaries for December with a 15-day delay, and now, six days into January, salaries for December have yet to be paid, and the situation is still unclear. These employees add that delays in salary payments have created significant challenges for them. Additionally, the Taliban have reduced teachers’ salaries by 200 Afghanis over the past two months, while reducing the wages of their fighters in security institutions by amounts ranging from 500 to 1,500 Afghanis. Sources indicate that the group is facing a budget deficit and is allocating most of its funds to its leaders and religious and jihadi madrasas.
Several government employees under Taliban control report that delays in salary payments have created difficulties for their families, leaving them unable to afford fuel or medicine for their sick relatives. According to them, the Taliban typically delay salary payments by 10 to 15 days each month, causing significant hardships for government employees who rely solely on their wages for daily expenses.
Previously, an audio recording from an employee of the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance circulated on social media, in which he mentioned the Taliban’s budget deficit. However, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance denied these claims at the time.
Sources also report that the Taliban have reduced the salaries of both teachers and fighters. Over the past two months, teachers’ salaries have been reduced by 200 Afghanis each month. According to sources, this reflects the Taliban’s budget deficit, as well as a lack of transparency and accountability in managing public revenues and expenditures. They emphasize that a significant portion of government revenues is spent on the Taliban’s leaders and religious madrasas, with no accountability within their regime.
Some employees of Taliban-run government institutions say the irregularities in monthly salary payments, which are their sole source of income, have created serious challenges for them. Maryam (pseudonym), a teacher in Kabul, says that the delays in salary payments have caused her significant problems. She points out that despite receiving one of the lowest salaries under various regimes, the Taliban have recently deducted 200 Afghanis from teachers’ monthly wages.
This teacher states, “We have organized our lives based on this income; everything depends on this salary. We try to determine what necessities to cover with how much money rent, food expenses, medicine all of this has become very difficult for us. For two months now, our salaries have not been paid on time. Additionally, our wages have been reduced by 200 Afghanis per teacher.
Another government employee, who asked for anonymity, is facing similar issues. He says the delays in salary payments have created serious problems for government employees. “Government employees have no other source of income. The problem is that salaries are not paid on time. The salary for November was paid on the 15th of December, and now, several days into January, we still haven’t received the salary for December. We don’t know how many more days we’ll have to wait.
Meanwhile, an employee at a private bank confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban have reduced the salaries of their fighters nationwide, depending on rank and position, due to a lack of funds. This reduction has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among the Taliban fighters. The bank employee explained, “Taliban military personnel are paid according to the system from the previous government ranging from soldier-level salaries to ranks like Soldier, Colonel, and general officers, based on their positions. Last month, all salaries were reduced by amounts ranging from 500 to 1,500 Afghanis depending on their ranks.” He added that the reduction is likely due to budget constraints and has led to discontent among the group’s fighters.
The source further noted, “This likely relates to a lack of funds. When we paid the salaries here, most people argued with us and asked why their pay had been reduced. When we explained that only this amount had been disbursed, they left the bank cursing their leaders.
It is worth mentioning that the Taliban’s budget allocation process has been a contentious issue. Over the past three years, the group has never publicly announced its budget ceiling or the amount of regular and developmental budgets.
This comes despite the Taliban generating significant revenues from commercial ports, mining sales, and heavy taxes collected from citizens. However, the group has failed to pay government employees’ salaries on time, leaving the destination of these collected funds unclear.
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