Sources in Kabul have told Afghanistan International that a recent directive from Taliban supreme leader to downsize security forces and government staff has caused significant discontent within the group’s own ranks, particularly among members of the security institutions.
In response to the rising unrest, Taliban officials including the Minister of Defence, Mullah Yaqub Mujahid; the Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani; and the head of the intelligence directorate, Abdul Haq Wasiq, reportedly travelled to Kandahar. According to informed sources, the senior leaders met with Hibatullah Akhundzada to express their concerns about the potential consequences of the decision and urged him to reconsider.
The Taliban regime has been grappling with a financial shortfall following the suspension of US aid and reduced support from other international sources. As a result, many Taliban fighters and government employees have gone unpaid for several months, a situation that remains unresolved.
To address the fiscal crisis, Akhundzada ordered a 20 percent reduction in personnel across Taliban security agencies and civilian institutions. The move has intensified internal dissatisfaction and raised concerns about the cohesion and morale of Taliban forces.
Sources told Afghanistan International that the recent high-level visit to Kandahar took place three days ago, during which Taliban leadership sought to persuade Akhundzada to delay or suspend the staff reduction plan. It remains unclear whether he has agreed to revise the directive.
Under the restructuring order, a staggering 90,000 positions are to be eliminated from the Ministry of Education alone. In addition, a committee has been established to evaluate staffing levels across all ministries with the aim of further personnel cuts. The Taliban leader has instructed that support and service staff be the first targeted for dismissal.
A letter signed by Defence Minister Yaqub Mujahid and obtained by Afghanistan International instructs the Ministry of Interior and the intelligence directorate to begin the downsizing process by removing “unpopular and undesirable individuals.”
The Taliban’s official spokesperson has confirmed the group’s ongoing restructuring efforts, describing them as routine measures aimed at improving efficiency and streamlining government operations. However, internal sources suggest the morale of Taliban fighters has been significantly affected by the cuts and uncertainty surrounding future payments.
