Document Reveals Salary Increases for Taliban-Affiliated Employees Amid Cuts for Former Government Staff
Bilal Sarwari, an Afghan journalist and activist, has published a copy of an official document revealing a monthly salary increase of 5,000 Afghanis for teachers in the Professional Development Department under the Taliban’s Ministry of Education.
The recently released document officially confirms the salary hike, which applies to teachers affiliated with the Professional Development Directorate. This comes amid multiple reports in recent years of salary reductions or benefit cuts for employees remaining from the former republic’s government in various ministries, under different pretexts.
Sarwari wrote that the Taliban administration has decreased the salaries of many former employees across several ministries citing various reasons, while simultaneously providing salary increases and additional benefits to personnel affiliated with themselves under different titles. This approach has drawn criticism and raised questions about the criteria used for distributing government privileges.
After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, large numbers of former government staff were removed from high-ranking positions and replaced by Taliban affiliates, some of whom reportedly lacked the necessary experience and expertise. As a result, many skilled professionals and experienced employees either stepped aside or emigrated, turning to personal ventures and private businesses.
Administrative experts emphasize that continuing such policies could negatively affect the quality of public services and the functioning of government institutions in the long term, underscoring the need for greater transparency and accountability from the Taliban administration.
