KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday that their Finance Ministry has assured that public employees’ salaries would be paid this month, despite ongoing financial strains and reports of delayed payments in recent weeks.
According to him, at least 1.04 million people are employed by public institutions under Taliban rule.
“Afghanistan’s budget is domestically funded and is not dependent on the arrival or absence of foreign aid,” he said, adding that people should not be concerned about salary payments.
His remarks come after reports that many civil servants had not received their wages in recent months. Some public employees have said that since the suspension of U.S. financial assistance, the Taliban had struggled to pay salaries, leaving many workers facing economic hardship.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has signed executive orders suspending most U.S. foreign aid and development assistance.
However, the U.S. State Department recently announced that humanitarian aid deemed “life-saving” would be exempt from these restrictions. Under this exemption, existing humanitarian programs—including medical supplies and services, food aid and shelter, and other essential assistance—can continue operating.
