RASC News Agency: Local sources from Herat report that money changers in the province have launched a widespread protest due to the Taliban’s increase in licensing fees for currency exchange businesses. On Thursday, September 5, locals confirmed that Herat’s money changers had gathered outside the office of the Taliban governor for Herat, protesting the crippling costs of exchange licenses. These protesters are demanding that the Taliban reduce the exorbitant fees imposed.
According to the sources, the money changers revealed that the Taliban are demanding three million kabuli rupees for the issuance of a license, in addition to six million kabuli rupees as a mandatory security deposit. They emphasized that in the current climate of rampant poverty and unemployment, these costs are simply unaffordable. A group of protesting money changers outside the governor’s office in Herat called on the Taliban to either reduce the fees or completely waive the security deposit.
They further highlighted that the total cost of licensing and the security deposit has now risen to nine million kabuli rupees, a burden that is untenable for most. The protesters pointed out that Afghanistan’s state banks, now under Taliban control, are experiencing a shortage of cash reserves in kabuli rupees. They accused the Taliban of attempting to replenish these reserves by demanding exorbitant fees and security deposits from businesses like currency exchange operators. This is not the first protest of its kind. Herat’s money changers previously protested against similar Taliban directives, but the group responded by forcibly closing their shops.
Meanwhile, amid rising unemployment and poverty, many young Afghanistanis are fleeing the country, while some, out of sheer desperation, are turning to the currency exchange business to support their families. However, the Taliban’s restrictive policies are making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods.
