KABUL, Afghanistan — As winter looms, military and civilian retirees in Afghanistan are expressing deep frustration over unpaid pensions that have gone unfulfilled for three years.
Many accuse the Taliban of disregarding their plight, which has left countless families in poverty.
Veterans of Afghanistan’s former government, some of whom served for decades, say they are now unable to provide for their families. Mohammad Zaman, a 29-year employee at Kabul’s 400-bed Daud Khan Hospital, is among those affected. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Zaman has received no pension, and he says his family is suffering.
“It has been three years since we received our pension,” Zaman said. “Now, I am sick and don’t even have the money to buy my medication.” Zaman added that his children frequently go to bed hungry, a common story among the veterans.
Mohammad Askar, another former government employee, worked for Kabul’s municipality. Today, he finds himself in dire economic straits. “They should give us our pension; we are in serious trouble,” he said. “We don’t have enough to cover household expenses. We cannot make ends meet.”
For many retirees, the financial strain has only worsened in the years since the Taliban assumed control. Alam Khan, another affected pensioner, described feeling abandoned after years of service. “We didn’t commit any crime,” he said. “We worked for years, and our pensions have been taken away. This is our right, and we deserve to be paid.”
The Taliban have previously stated that the issue of pensions remains under review. However, there has been little progress, leaving many of the approximately 150,000 retirees facing an uncertain future.
The Taliban-run Finance Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. As temperatures drop, these retirees, who once served their country, are left wondering when — or if — they will see the benefits they earned.
