Sources said that the Taliban are forcing the residents of Paktika in the southeast of the country to pay higher taxes under the pretext of zakat, despite providing few, if any, basic services in return.
Several residents told Amu TV that Taliban officials have been collecting payments across multiple districts, invoking zakat — a form of religious almsgiving in Islam — to legitimize the demands.
The residents, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, said the collections are taking place in areas already facing widespread shortages of food, healthcare and other essential services.
A document obtained by Amu instructs residents to deliver their zakat directly to the Taliban’s so-called Bayt al-Mal, or public treasury. The letter, which could not be independently verified, warns that those who fail to comply will face unspecified consequences.
“If people do not hand over their zakat, they will face serious consequences,” the letter states.
Taliban have not publicly commented on the allegations or confirmed the authenticity of the document.
