Government employees in Bamyan are complaining of threats, insults, and humiliation by the Taliban. They assert that unemployment, poverty, and Taliban pressures have made their lives bitter. Some of these employees claim to have been detained and subjected to Taliban interrogations. Former government employees state that even in organizations, they are unable to get recruited, and these organizations also refuse to recruit them.
After gaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban removed former government officials from leadership positions in governmental institutions and replaced them with their affiliates. They not only limited themselves to appointing their individuals in governmental bodies but also humiliated, insulted, and even tortured former government employees.
Government employees in Bamyan province allege that they are systematically and discriminately dismissed from their jobs, with Taliban fighters appointed in their place. Some former government employees who are now unemployed also state that despite their experience and expertise, they are not hired and have been forced to resort to street labor.
These employees assert that not only are Taliban fighters being employed in government offices, but individuals affiliated with this group are also placed in international organizations, and we are not even shortlisted for recruitment.
Mohammad Zaman, a former government employee, states that despite holding a master’s degree, he has been unable to secure a position in any government institution or private organization for over two years. He claims to have applied for employment “400 times” in various organizations, yet none have offered him a job.
This former government employee adds, “Only two organizations responded to my complaints, stating regretfully that they couldn’t hire me. However, other organizations, where their general director was a foreigner, did not respond to my complaint.”
Mohammad Ishaq Joya, formerly the Head of Human Resources in Bamyan province, also laments his unemployment. He states, “During the republic system, I served for two years as the Head of Human Resources in the governor’s office. Before that, I worked for five years as the Officer for Capacity Building and Development at the head of the Human Resources Department of the province. I worked for one year as the secretary of the Institute for the Development of Civil Capacity. However, I became unemployed with the arrival of the Taliban.”
He adds that he has applied for jobs at both domestic and international organizations, but he has not been shortlisted in any of them, and none of the organizations have responded to his repeated applications. He asserts that organizations are unwilling to hire former government employees, likely facing resistance from the Taliban.
Mr. Joya emphasizes that he has applied for over 100 positions in various organizations, only being “shortlisted” once, and that too without any results. He expresses dismay at the absence of a mechanism for former government employees to lodge complaints and states that unemployment has ruined their lives with no recourse.
Nader Forotan, another government employee with nine years of service, has now turned to farming. He states that even farming is not a viable option for many educated individuals and former government employees in the province of Bamyan.
Mr. Forotan adds, “Abdullah Sarhadi [the Taliban governor] told me, ‘You were very tenacious! When you were working in the administration of the former government. At that time, Americans were ruling here. Now, there are Mujahideen [the Taliban]. As long as the Taliban are in power, we don’t need those who worked with Americans. It’s our turn now.'”
Some dismissed former government employees in Bamyan and claimed that the Taliban were hiring individuals who were active against the previous government in the Jalrez district of Maidan Wardak province. During the previous government’s rule, this district was likened to the “Valley of Death,” where many soldiers and employees were beheaded.
These employees further state that those employed as government officials in Bamyan mostly come from southern regions of Afghanistan and lack any experience or expertise in administrative work. According to their claims, individuals recruited by the Taliban are often illiterate and lack basic literacy skills.
