Afghanistan

Taliban ban military salary payments through banks in Herat

A Taliban member in Herat province in western Afghanistan. File photo.

HERAT, Afghanistan — Taliban authorities in Herat have ordered that military salaries no longer be paid through banks, according to an official directive communicated in a letter dated January 26.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Amu TV, states that Taliban military personnel must now collect their wages exclusively from military centers or automated teller machines (ATMs).

Nooruddin Islamjar, the Taliban-appointed governor of Herat, wrote in the letter that banks will continue to process payments only for civilian employees.

The directive has been sent to the Taliban’s provincial police command, the 207th Al-Farooq Army Corps, and the Taliban’s intelligence agency in Herat.

While officials have not publicly explained the decision, some reports suggest it was driven by security concerns, as collecting salaries from banks could make Taliban military personnel more vulnerable to attacks.