Taliban have begun a new round of staff reductions in public institutions, imposing a 10 percent cut in the Ministries of Defense and Commerce. An earlier directive had ordered a 20 percent reduction across public offices.
Sources said the new directive for 10% cut has been issued to the Taliban ministries Defense and the Industry and Commerce.
The two ministries have been asked to identify which employees will be dismissed.
In April, Taliban leader ordered 20 percent cut in workforce in public employees. Later in May, he ordered cuts in the salaries of public employees.
However, not all ministries have complied. Late in August, three sources told Amu TV that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, has resisted the downsizing in his ministry to protect trusted loyalists.
As a result, the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance delayed salary payments to Interior Ministry employees in protest, sources said.
Haqqani reportedly responded by offering to pay salaries from his own funds rather than accept the layoffs. While salaries in the Interior Ministry remain contested, sources said the Ministry of Finance has recently released payments for employees of the Defense and Education Ministries after earlier delays.
Sources familiar with the matter said Haqqani’s resistance reflects his determination to preserve his inner circle and maintain influence inside the Taliban administration.
