RASC News Agency: Since their ascension to power, the Taliban have declared pensions for retirees and former civil servants to be “contrary to Sharia,” refusing to disburse these payments. The abrupt dissolution of Afghanistan’s pension system delivered a harsh blow to more than 400,000 civil employees and approximately 148,000 retirees. In January 2022, the Taliban’s reclusive leader issued a decree establishing a special court to address pension payments, promising that salaries would be allocated in accordance with “Sharia and law.”
Shortly after the decree, the Taliban announced their intention to distribute pensions as per the orders of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. This announcement initially brought a glimmer of hope to thousands of retirees. However, they now claim the Taliban have taken no substantive action to fulfill these promises. Many see the decree and the establishment of the special court as a calculated ploy to pacify dissent, rather than a sincere effort to resolve their grievances. Retirees argue that if the Taliban were genuinely committed to paying their pensions, there would be no need for the special court. They emphasize that all necessary documentation and records are already housed in the Pension Fund Directorate and the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Finance. In their view, the decree was merely a tactic to momentarily suppress public outcry, while the issue of unpaid salaries persists and additional challenges have been imposed.
Over the past three years, retirees have repeatedly organized protests, demanding their rightful pensions. Despite their efforts, the Taliban have failed to honor their commitments. Many retirees compare the decree establishing the special court to an empty promise, describing it as akin to “chasing false hopes.” Amid growing frustration, the Taliban leader recently claimed that anyone without a salary should be reported directly to him, promising financial assistance and other provisions. However, retirees have dismissed these claims as hollow rhetoric, accusing the Taliban of perpetuating false narratives to mask their neglect and inaction.
