RASC News Agency: In Afghanistan, the Taliban have adopted extortion as a central aspect of their operations, with a surge in complaints emerging from the residents of Herat. Since seizing control, the Taliban have installed their commanders and fighters in key ministerial and administrative roles, displacing a significant number of qualified professionals with uneducated and inexperienced personnel. This has ignited widespread anger, particularly in Herat. Residents warn that without measures to quell the public’s dissatisfaction, widespread protests are imminent due to soaring unemployment and rampant corruption within government institutions.
In Herat, the Taliban’s arbitrary actions include appointing and endorsing unqualified individuals in various offices. Several Herat residents report that the Taliban have allocated specialized positions to their uneducated fighters since their takeover. They allege that the group’s lack of understanding of their duties has led to pervasive corruption. This mismanagement has caused significant challenges and confusion in administrative processes.
Jamaluddin, a Herat resident who visited the civil registry office under Taliban control to obtain birth certificates for his children, voiced his frustrations about the mismanagement and corruption prevalent in the office. He stated, “After four years, I returned to the civil registry with my children. Competent staff have been replaced by unqualified individuals who previously worked as petition writers under the former government, solely due to their connections with the Taliban. This has completely disrupted the system, making it time-consuming, error-prone, and heavily reliant on bribes.”
Despite facing numerous challenges, Jamaluddin eventually obtained the birth certificates by paying a bribe, only to encounter multiple errors when seeking electronic certificates. Bribery has become a norm under the Taliban, with no tasks being completed without payment. Herat residents report that their issues are only resolved after paying bribes.
Shoib, another resident of Herat, visited the legal office controlled by the Taliban to resolve a property dispute. He reported that the unqualified Taliban staff openly demanded bribes. He added, “Bribery is rampant. For a legal matter involving inherited land, I approached the legal office. Despite no progress, the staff threatened me until I paid a bribe.” Shoib noted that even after paying to expedite his case, no action was taken after a week.
Herat residents feel compelled to pay bribes to resolve their issues. Moreover, unqualified staff often extend tasks that should take an hour into two days. This issue is not isolated to Herat; residents from many other provinces have expressed similar frustrations regarding the pervasive corruption and extortion under Taliban rule.
