Extensive Taliban interference in aid activities within domestic and foreign organizations has been a serious concern for assisting countries over the past nearly three years. Sources indicate that the Taliban, for more than two years, have systematically, deliberately, and skillfully relocated individuals affiliated with themselves within certain aid agencies. However, the Taliban have denied interference in the affairs of assisting organizations. This comes as the Ministry of Economy, under the control of this group, has instructed all domestic and foreign organizations to invite a representative from this ministry to oversee procurement procedures. However, sources suggest that the Taliban previously enforced such a directive. According to sources, the Taliban have demanded the appointment of a representative in the recruitment process of both domestic and foreign organizations. One source alleges that in one instance, the “Taliban agriculture manager’s share” at an organization in a district amounted to 70 individuals for obtaining assistance. Meanwhile, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has announced the cessation of its activities due to increased pressure from the Taliban and the security of its staff.
Following concerns over increased Taliban intervention in the workflow and distribution of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, this group has issued orders to oversee the procurement process of aid agencies. The Taliban claimed that these organizations were advancing their work contrary to the directives of the Ministry of Economy of this group.
Last week, the Ministry of Economy under Taliban control, issued a written directive to domestic and foreign organizations, ordering them to invite a representative of this ministry as an observer in their procurement processes. The ministry’s document alleges that previously, organizations were carrying out their procurement processes in a self-willed and contrary manner to the ministry’s directives.
However, some employees of these organizations, who do not wish to disclose their identities, describe this Taliban action as direct and overt interference in humanitarian aid affairs. According to these employees, although Taliban interference previously existed extensively albeit undeclared, this directive amplifies pressures from the militants and officials of this group in humanitarian aid matters.
Credible sources confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that before the issuance of the Ministry of Economy’s written directive regarding the appointment of an observer representative in the procurement activities of domestic and foreign organizations, Taliban intervention had been underway in an undeclared manner.
These sources add that Taliban interference in the hiring process of organization employees has intensified, and this group insists on having its representative in the examination committees of aid agencies. According to sources, “The Ministry of Economy under Taliban control decision was already there long before this written directive. They even insist on being present in the examination process. Interference in hiring has increased significantly.”
Sources emphasize that Taliban intervention in the affairs of organizations has become commonplace. According to them, some organizations are obliged to hire Taliban-affiliated individuals. According to sources, organizations hire Taliban-affiliated individuals without conducting exams.
A credible source from one of the organizations, who prefers to remain anonymous, stated: “Some time ago, two positions were announced within the organization. The exam was postponed twice, and eventually, it was announced that an individual affiliated with the Taliban’s economic chief had been appointed, rendering the exam unnecessary.” The report refrains from mentioning the district and province names due to concerns about Taliban interrogation.
Alongside Taliban interference in hiring, the distribution of aid, and identifying beneficiaries, some organizations collude with the Taliban. Credible sources say that these organizations, in coordination with the Taliban, misuse humanitarian aid collectively.
An informed source at one of the organizations reported to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “Certain domestic organizations have capitulated to the Taliban. Recently, one such organization from Maidan Wardak province allocated seventy shares exclusively to the agriculture manager of a district. When employees of the organization and the Taliban hail from the same region and background, this inevitably becomes a commonplace occurrence.”
Anonymous sources emphasize the emergence of a troubling dynamic between certain organizations and the Taliban. They assert that this undesirable collaboration leads to mutual benefit from “humanitarian aid.” One source explicitly states, “When the Taliban appoint organization employees, these individuals become subservient to them.”
Another source from the side of officials of some organizations also expresses concern about collusion with the Taliban. According to him, some individuals in aid agencies have Taliban-oriented thinking and planning because this group has hired them. He adds: “In some meetings, the majority of the attendants are the people who are thinking like the Taliban and are affiliated with them.”
Meanwhile, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has announced the cessation of its activities in Afghanistan from Friday, March 15, due to increased pressure from the Taliban and for the security of its staff. This committee has been under pressure from the Taliban since the incident of the burning of the Quran in Sweden.
Andreas Stefansson, the Country Director of SCA, stated in an interview with Radio Sweden: “Since the Quran was set on fire in Stockholm until now, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan has continued its work with special local and regional aids in several locations, but now strong messages have been received from the Taliban.”
This comes as some foreign research organizations have repeatedly warned of Taliban interference and hijacking of humanitarian aid. According to these organizations, the Taliban are seeking to exploit international aid by establishing fraudulent non-governmental organizations.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) of the United States has issued multiple reports warning that the Taliban are exploiting humanitarian aid by establishing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and placing their individuals to benefit from it.
SIGAR has previously received reports indicating that the Taliban are profiting from educational programs funded by the United States through methods such as taxation revenues and worse, by creating fraudulent non-governmental organizations. The report states that the Taliban obtained international aid by infiltrating organizations and indirectly managing this aid.
According to SIGAR’s report, the Taliban visit the offices of aid agencies without coordination, inspecting documents and contracts between international organizations and contractors. Moreover, their explicit interference in the affairs of domestic and foreign organizations has been noted, including requests for participation in decision-making processes regarding project implementation and personnel hiring.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Economy under Taliban control has reported that currently, 2,393 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are registered with the ministry, of which 272 are foreign entities.
