Taliban’s Ministry of Economy Registers 72 NGOs Amid Declining Foreign Aid

The Taliban-led Ministry of Economy reports that since the beginning of the current calendar year, 72 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including 71 domestic and one foreign entity, have received official licenses to operate. According to the ministry, the registration and licensing process continues, although the reduction in foreign aid has affected the scope of work for some organizations.

Abdulrahman Habib, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, stated that following the cessation of U.S. assistance to Afghanistan, several NGOs have been forced to scale back portions of their humanitarian activities. He emphasized that this situation has directly impacted the ability to respond to the urgent needs of the population.

Based on the provided information, a total of 2,588 NGOs, including approximately 200 foreign organizations, are currently registered with the Ministry of Economy. This figure indicates that despite financial constraints, the network of aid organizations remains active.

The Ministry of Economy added that in the current year, 752 domestic and foreign NGOs have implemented nearly 2,813 projects across various sectors. However, civil society organizations have repeatedly warned that the continued decline in aid and administrative restrictions under the Taliban administration could pose serious challenges to people’s access to essential services.