RASC News Agency: Credible reports indicate that the Taliban regime has failed to pay salaries to its civil and military personnel, exacerbating an already dire financial crisis. According to informed sources, only members of the Taliban’s intelligence agency have received their wages, while the rest of the government workforce remains in limbo due to severe budgetary shortfalls. Taliban-affiliated insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to RASC News Agency that the delay in salary payments is a direct consequence of the regime’s deepening fiscal woes. These sources disclosed that not only have civil servants been left unpaid, but even security and military forces have yet to receive their wages leading to a significant decline in morale within their ranks. Government employees under Taliban rule, both in Kabul and across the provinces, are growing increasingly anxious as prolonged salary delays push them into financial despair. Many claim that their livelihoods have been crippled by the lack of payments. A government ministry employee, requesting anonymity, told our correspondent:
“For months, we have received no salaries. Many of my colleagues have been forced to borrow money from friends and relatives just to meet basic living expenses. If this situation persists, a mass exodus of government employees is inevitable, leaving institutions effectively paralyzed.” Sources further reveal that some civil servants and even members of the Taliban’s military forces are contemplating resigning due to financial hardship, as continuing to serve without pay has become unsustainable. Since seizing control of Kabul in August 2021, the Taliban has faced crippling international sanctions and the freezing of Afghanistan’s financial assets in foreign banks. These restrictions have severely depleted the group’s financial resources, undermining its ability to govern effectively.
Despite attempts to generate revenue through increased taxation, mineral exploitation, and foreign aid, reports suggest these measures have proven insufficient to sustain the regime’s operational costs. A Kabul-based economic analyst, speaking to RASC News Agency, stated:
“The Taliban’s economy is built on a fragile and insufficient revenue base, incapable of sustaining a functioning government. The freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves and the regime’s isolation from international financial institutions have pushed it into an economic freefall. If this crisis persists, the consequences will extend beyond government employees, ultimately destabilizing the entire economy.”
The Taliban’s failure to pay its civil and military workforce could trigger severe consequences for the regime. Beyond fueling public discontent, this crisis risks eroding bureaucratic efficiency and weakening the loyalty of security forces. Experts warn that if the Taliban fails to secure alternative financial resources and resume salary payments, it could face mounting internal unrest. The growing frustration among government employees and military personnel threatens not only the Taliban’s grip on power but also the broader stability of the country. Despite the deepening financial turmoil, the Taliban has yet to outline a clear strategy for resolving the crisis. The regime’s budgetary priorities remain opaque, with no transparency regarding how its limited financial resources are distributed among government institutions.
A well-informed source in Kabul noted:
“The Taliban is desperately seeking new revenue streams, but with international sanctions and the lack of formal recognition by world powers, securing sustainable financial channels has proven nearly impossible. If this situation persists, the regime’s economic troubles will only intensify.” Given the current trajectory, the Taliban’s economic future remains uncertain. Analysts warn that without securing substantial financial resources or implementing a sustainable salary payment system, the coming months could see mass protests from government employees and potential dissent within the Taliban’s security ranks further exacerbating instability in Afghanistan.
