Taliban Abolishes Political Deputy PM Post, Dismisses Over 250 Staff Members

According to a statement released on Wednesday, 30 April, the meeting brought together senior officials from the group’s intelligence, military, and judicial bodies. Participants included the governor and deputy governor of Kandahar, the provincial police chief, heads of intelligence and the Supreme Court, and other top Taliban officials.

During the session, the governor called on various departments to take action to implement “divine laws” and enforce court rulings without delay.

The Taliban police chief in Kandahar emphasised the role of military officials in carrying out judicial orders swiftly and efficiently. “Military officials have a responsibility to promptly and effectively enforce court rulings so that oppressors are punished and rightful claimants receive their due,” he said.

Gul Mohammad Sayyad, head of the Taliban’s military court in Kandahar, and Hezbollah Kandahari, head of the provincial primary court, stressed that all decisions are based strictly on Sharia law.

The meeting comes amid a noticeable increase in security operations across Kandahar city. Entry points are under intensified surveillance, and reports indicate that security personnel from surrounding districts are being disarmed before being allowed into the city.

Previously, Kandahar’s Taliban police command had verbally instructed local forces not to enter the city with weapons or ammunition a directive that has reportedly been reinforced in recent days.

Despite travelling to the Taliban’s power base, Fletcher was unable to meet with the group’s reclusive leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. He did, however, hold discussions with the Taliban-appointed governor of Kandahar province.

In a post shared on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Fletcher shared images and video footage of his visit, noting that he engaged with local officials, returning refugees, and healthcare workers during stops at multiple aid sites, including a regional hospital.

Fletcher raised alarm over the plight of displaced children who have been separated from their families, and voiced serious concern over the deteriorating conditions faced by female aid workers.

“Cutting funding for those in greatest need is not something to boast about. For millions, it is a death sentence,” he wrote.

He revealed that recent funding shortfalls had led to the closure of 400 health centres across Kandahar, depriving over three million people of access to essential medical services.

The UN humanitarian chief highlighted severe shortages in hospital capacity, neonatal care, and basic medical supplies, and urged international donors and policymakers to visit Kandahar to witness the crisis firsthand.

“When you spend time with the female health workers on whom this infrastructure relies, and they tell you that they are facing salary cuts of half, of two-thirds,” Fletcher said, “this is the impact of aid cuts.”

He warned that these reductions could result in millions of preventable deaths. “I can’t sugar this pill,” he added.

While Kandahar is widely seen as the stronghold of Taliban supreme leader Akhundzada, Fletcher did not confirm whether a meeting with him had been requested or declined.

Earlier in his trip to Afghanistan, Fletcher met with senior Taliban officials in Kabul, including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Economy Minister Din Mohammad Hanif, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Their discussions reportedly focused on the worsening humanitarian situation, climate change, drug control, and regional security challenges.

Speaking at a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday, 30 April, Jalali criticised both the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for what he described as mismanaged and ineffective aid deliveries.

According to Jalali, WFP recently imported 6,750 tonnes of low-quality food products under the label “Super Cereal,” while UNDP provided 650 tuberculosis testing kits, many of which were expired or mismatched in specification compared to official documentation. He added that UNDP had acknowledged these discrepancies.

The minister further claimed that WFP had shipped 55 tonnes of premix food supplements without accounting for local storage limitations, resulting in the supplies expiring before use. “This is a clear waste of aid,” Jalali said, calling for greater transparency and accountability from humanitarian organisations.

These allegations come amid ongoing tensions between the Taliban and UN agencies, which have repeatedly accused the group of obstructing aid efforts and pressuring staff to distribute assistance according to the Taliban’s preferences.

According to reports, the delegation toured key historical sites, cultural institutions, industrial facilities, and exhibitions in the cities of Hangzhou and Ürümqi, in the Xinjiang region. During the visit, the journalists also held meetings with local Chinese officials and media representatives.

In Ürümqi, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the strengthening political, economic, and trade relations between Beijing and the Taliban, and called for deeper cooperation moving forward.

China has consistently hosted Afghan journalists in recent years as part of its soft power outreach, using such visits to present its economic achievements, infrastructure development, and cultural programmes to foreign media professionals.

Engagement between China and the Taliban has increased significantly since the group returned to power in 2021. China is among the few nations to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador and has signed multiple agreements with the group, particularly in the mining, oil, and gas sectors, as it seeks to expand its regional influence.

The meeting took place amid ongoing efforts by the Taliban to broaden international engagement, despite the group still lacking formal recognition from the majority of governments worldwide.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and the expansion of cooperation in areas such as culture, health, and sport.

The Taliban reported that Al-Khulaifi pledged greater cooperation and indicated that the Qatari government would help facilitate employment opportunities for Afghan workers in the Gulf state.

Muttaqi described the relationship between the Taliban and Qatar as “positive” and expressed hope for stronger diplomatic engagement in the near future. Al-Khulaifi likewise characterised the relationship as close, highlighting the need for broader collaboration across multiple sectors.

Both parties agreed to enhance institutional engagement and hold more frequent meetings to advance mutual cooperation, according to the statement.

Qatar has maintained close contact with the Taliban for years and played a pivotal role in their return to power in 2021. While Doha continues to operate its embassy in Kabul and hosts a Taliban political office in its capital, it has yet to formally recognise the Taliban government. Qatar’s support has remained limited to humanitarian aid.

The Taliban have repeatedly expressed interest in facilitating the deployment of Afghan workers to Gulf nations. However, countries in the region, which rely heavily on foreign labour, particularly from India and Pakistan have yet to respond favourably to these offers.