RASC News Agency: Reports emanating from Badghis province in western Afghanistan suggest that certain factions within the Taliban ranks are yet to receive their stipends from the group’s leadership. A reliable source in Badghis province, speaking on the condition of anonymity to RASC News Agency on Sunday, Feb 25, affirmed that numerous Taliban factions have not received any stipends from their leadership for several months, enduring severe economic hardship.
The source further elaborated that the Taliban leadership has justified their stance to their subordinates under various pretexts, emphasizing that their jihad is for Islam and not motivated by economic concerns or other matters. Despite the Taliban’s claims of adherence to Islamic principles, the current plight of the Afghanistan populace under their administration starkly contradicts Islamic teachings.
Moreover, the top echelons of the Taliban are allegedly focused on replenishing their coffers after two decades of conflict in the rugged terrains of Afghanistan. The source also contends that the senior Taliban figures have acknowledged that the prevailing circumstances signal a profound transformation, suggesting that the group may no longer be tenable in Afghanistan, potentially heralding a new era for the Afghanistani people.
Concurrently, additional sources in western Afghanistan corroborate widespread discontent among the majority of Taliban forces, particularly regarding economic grievances. The source notes that while in the past, the collection of tithes and alms from various regions sustained Taliban members, the current absence of income exacerbates basic challenges confronting the forces. Furthermore, many Taliban units purportedly lack the means to broach the subject of stipend disbursement with their high-ranking officials.
However, Haseen Walizadeh, a civil activist in Afghanistan, revealed to RASC News Agency that most Taliban officials refrain from extending material or economic support to their subordinates. Walizadeh added that any economic engagement between Taliban leaders and their subordinates risks fostering monetization, posing significant threats to the group’s leadership, with compensation proving exceedingly arduous.
Nonetheless, Sayed Mehrani, a security expert in western Afghanistan, informed RASC News Agency that the Taliban currently find themselves in a state of disarray, lacking a clear direction forward. Mehrani stressed that a multitude of Taliban members, spanning from low-ranking operatives to senior figures, are acutely aware of the rampant corruption and moral decay within the group, navigating their chosen paths accordingly.
In light of these developments, attempts to solicit perspectives from Taliban officials in Badghis province were rebuffed, as they declined to engage with RASC News Agency.
