KABUL — Civil servants in the country say they have gone more than two months without pay, compounding financial strain ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday and raising broader concerns about the Taliban’s ability to manage state payrolls.
Employees at three separate public institutions confirmed to Amu TV that salary payments have been delayed for over eight weeks. Taliban have not issued a formal explanation.
“For many of us, this salary is the only source of income,” said one civil servant, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “Without it, we face mounting economic pressure — not just financially, but mentally. Some colleagues can’t even afford the transport fare to reach their offices.”
A source from the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Finance said salary disbursements might resume in the coming days, though no specific timetable was provided.
The delays come less than two weeks before Eid al-Adha, a period when household expenses typically rise. Workers say they are increasingly unable to meet basic needs, let alone prepare for the holiday.
In addition to the pay disruptions, civil servants say they face looming job insecurity. Earlier this year, sources in Kandahar reported that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had ordered a 20 percent reduction in public institutions staffing. Employees now worry the cuts are being carried out in an inconsistent and opaque manner.
“There’s growing concern that the layoffs are arbitrary,” said another employee. “And at the same time, we’re hearing talk of salary reductions.”
In April, a Taliban spokesperson acknowledged plans to restructure state institutions, including reductions in the number of Taliban-affiliated personnel on the government payroll. Since then, civil servants say salary delays have become more common.
Economists attribute the issue to deeper fiscal problems. “With U.S. funding cut off and humanitarian assistance declining, the Taliban are under growing pressure to fund public sector salaries,” said Sayed Masood, a Kabul-based economic analyst.
Several employees said that delayed payments have been a recurring issue since January. While some continue working in anticipation of back pay, others warned that morale has eroded sharply and that core public services are beginning to suffer.
