RASC News Agency: Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, strongly condemned the Taliban’s failure to provide pensions to retirees, describing it as “an act of outright theft and coercion.” Faiq voiced these remarks on Saturday, October 26, in response to statements by Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister, on X. In a recent gathering in Kabul, Stanekzai claimed that the Taliban’s governance is built upon the foundation of justice within society. “A system without justice, plagued by corruption and disorder, will not gain the trust of its people and will drive them to leave their country,” he asserted.
In response, Faiq challenged these assertions, asking, “What justice are you referring to when retired employees have been deprived of their pensions for more than three years?” He emphasized that these workers, after years of service and contributions, now find themselves stripped of the very benefits they earned and expected to rely on in retirement. Faiq further criticized the Taliban’s coercive policies, highlighting that the group forcefully collects taxes, tithes, and other dues from even the poorest street vendors. Yet, since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, retirees nationwide have not received any pension payments.
Several retirees have previously expressed to the media their struggles with severe economic hardships and escalating poverty. Despite this, the Taliban’s reclusive leadership continues to deny them their legitimate and lawful rights, showing a blatant disregard for their plight.
