RASC News Agency: Two years ago, the Taliban reportedly issued an ultimatum to senior officials of the Aga Khan Foundation in Afghanistan, instructing them to cease operations in the northern provinces and relocate to the southern regions, particularly Kandahar and Helmand. According to sources within the Aga Khan Foundation, the organization has paid the Taliban $16 million over the past two years to maintain its offices in the north, avoiding forced relocation. This payment arrangement was reportedly finalized during a meeting between representatives of the foundation and the Taliban in Kandahar.
Despite these payments, the Taliban recently stripped the Aga Khan Foundation of its authority over Kabul’s Serena Hotel. Last Wednesday, Taliban personnel replaced the foundation’s staff at the hotel, assuming full control. The Qatari Embassy, which is currently housed in the Serena Hotel, now pays $10,000 monthly to the Taliban for operational expenses. However, guest occupancy at the hotel has plummeted. Sources close to the Taliban confirmed to RASC News Agency that hospitals affiliated with the Aga Khan Foundation, including French-managed facilities, are also under threat. The Taliban had previously attempted to seize control of these hospitals but were deterred due to a lack of external support. Reports suggest that the foundation may soon be forced to surrender these facilities to the Taliban.
In Kabul, sources revealed that all educational institutions operated by the Aga Khan Foundation, including kindergartens, have been shuttered. Furthermore, women have been barred from working in the foundation’s offices in Kabul, a ban that was imposed three days ago. In Badakhshan, the Taliban have reportedly extorted significant sums from the Aga Khan Foundation over the past three years, demanding both cash payments and the inclusion of their affiliates in the foundation’s workforce. Officials from the foundation in Badakhshan are reportedly subjected to daily threats, with the Taliban leveraging fear to extract compliance.
An anonymous source within the Aga Khan Foundation confirmed to RASC News Agency that Afghanistan representatives are in urgent discussions with the foundation’s global leadership. There is a high likelihood that the foundation will halt all operations in Afghanistan in the near future. Meanwhile, Taliban sources in Badakhshan admitted to RASC News Agency that over the past two decades, they have consistently extorted between $30,000 and $50,000 monthly from Aga Khan Foundation officials to permit operations in areas under their control. This amount has recently doubled, with foundation representatives warning that they are no longer capable of sustaining these payments.
