Reputable sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance confirm that the ministry has commenced the process of purging its employees in several provinces of the country. According to sources, in the latest development, the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance has decided to dismiss, downgrade, or transfer around 100 positions in the provinces of Parwan and Kunduz. The sources attribute this move by the Taliban to their efforts to remove employees associated with the previous government and replace them with trusted members of their group. They further indicate that the Taliban are even demoting some of their own indigenous members in these provinces or relocating them to remote areas. Meanwhile, certain local sources report instances of harsh treatment by newly appointed Taliban Authorities to the Revenue Offices in Parwan, Kunduz, and other provinces, alleging that in some cases, they are subjecting their subordinates to humiliation and degradation.
At least two credible sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance have confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the ministry has initiated the process of purging personnel in the revenue offices in various provinces, including Parwan, Panjshir, and Kunduz. A source in a conversation with the Hasht-e Subh Daily stated that approximately 100 employees from these three provinces are expected to be either dismissed, demoted, or relocated to remote areas of the country. According to the source, a majority of employees from the previous government in these provinces have already been dismissed or demoted from their positions. The source stated, “Former employees are either being fired or demoted, or they are being transferred from these three provinces to distant provinces like Helmand. It’s essentially the process of removing employees from the previous government. Conditions are being created for them to voluntarily resign from their posts.”
Meanwhile, another source within the Ministry of Finance attributes the Taliban’s actions to the removal of employees associated with the previous government and the repositioning of their own members. The source elaborated, “They have even relocated native Taliban officials from these provinces to remote regions or shifted employees from lower positions to higher ones. Essentially, conditions are being tightened around the employees to compel them to step aside from their duties. Imagine a 3rd grade staff member being transferred from Parwan or Panjshir to Paktia, with the stipulated salary. It’s simply implausible, but they intentionally carry out these actions to force the employees out of their roles.”
Sources continue to cite another motive behind the Taliban’s actions as the dismissal of non-Pashtun individuals and the relocation of “trustworthy” members of the group. A source added, “The goal in this regard is to move individuals deemed more trustworthy. It’s the path toward becoming a mafia-like accumulation of wealth. Specific individuals, perhaps in exchange for bribes, are hired, and are meant to be placed in key positions.”
According to them, this process has been executed in many provinces previously, but it has recently commenced in the provinces of Panjshir, Kunduz, and Parwan. The source added, “Even though the Revenue Officer of Panjshir province was a Mullah himself and was from this province has recently been shifted to the province of Paktia. They intend to dismiss, demote, or relocate all employees of revenue offices from Panjshir province to remote areas.”
Meanwhile, sources in the provinces of Parwan and Kunduz also reveal that approximately 60% of employees from other ethnicities in these two provinces have been dismissed by the Taliban. According to sources, the Taliban intends to remove all employees associated with previous governments from their positions in these administrations. A source in the province of Parwan stated to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “After one of the employees of the previous government was dismissed, he went to the Taliban’s provincial revenue office in Parwan to inquire why he was removed. The Taliban Revenue Director in Parwan province told him that he does not like any of them, Don’t worry, you all will be dismissed.”
On the other hand, local sources from the provinces of Parwan, Kunduz, and Panjshir report concerning treatment by newly appointed Taliban officials towards their employees in these regions. A source in the province of Parwan stated, “The newly appointed officials consistently demean and humiliate employees. I spoke with employees from all three provinces, and they all had the same complaint. The environment has been crafted in a way that coerces employees to step aside from their duties. The Taliban view non-Pashtun employees of the previous government as enemies and do not trust them. Especially in the provinces of Panjshir and Parwan, they believe all employees of the previous government are adversaries of their group.”
It’s worth noting that since their takeover of the country, the Taliban have predominantly replaced government employees with religious figures such as Qaris, Mullahs, and Mawlawis. However, despite committing crimes, some members of this group remain in their positions or acquire other high-ranking roles.
