World Bank Denies Taliban Claim Over Debt Repayments To Afghan Companies

Speaking at a provincial administrative meeting, Wafa instructed all government offices to strictly implement the group’s laws and to follow the directives issued by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

In a statement released by the governor’s office on Tuesday, Wafa said, “The old law has been abolished and holds no validity.” He emphasised that all former legal frameworks must be replaced with the Taliban's regulations and that a designated committee would begin reviewing and removing former laws across government departments.

Wafa also directed the local electricity office in Balkh to collect outstanding electricity bills from the homes and properties of former government officials, allowing payment in instalments.

The announcement follows a recent statement by Hibatullah Akhundzada, who declared that he does not accept a single article of Afghanistan’s former constitution. He further stated that a revised version of the old legal code, submitted by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, was rejected as it did not align with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic governance.

The Taliban have said that their scholars are currently working on drafting a new legal code "free from Western influence." Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid previously told media outlets that while elements of the former constitution could be reviewed, the new laws would reflect the group’s values and would be finalised soon.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have yet to introduce a formal constitution, making them the only ruling authority in the world operating without one. Most governance under the Taliban is conducted based on tribal customs and strict interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence.

Legal experts have noted that Afghanistan’s previous constitution was among the strongest in the region, with no contradiction to Islamic principles. Article One of the former constitution stated, “The religion of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the sacred religion of Islam,” while Article Three stipulated, “No law shall contravene the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.”

Despite this, the Taliban continue to reject the document, claiming it was imposed under foreign influence and does not represent their vision for Afghanistan.

Sources within RTA told Afghanistan International on Tuesday that the layoffs affected long-serving journalists, editors, and technical staff—some of whom had worked at the broadcaster for two to four decades. In addition to being dismissed, their employee identification cards were reportedly confiscated by Taliban officials.

Those affected also reported that they have not received their salaries for the past two months, a problem that extends beyond RTA. Teachers and other civil servants across Afghanistan have similarly gone unpaid for several weeks.

The dismissals follow a directive from Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, mandating a 20 percent reduction in the workforce across all government institutions. Sources indicate the decision stems from severe budget shortfalls and the ongoing suspension of international aid.

The Taliban has also announced plans to restructure and downsize numerous government bodies, including its own security institutions. According to internal documents, the Ministry of Education alone is expected to lay off at least 90,000 employees.

In earlier rounds of cuts, the Taliban’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock terminated 31 employees from its provincial directorate in Parwan. More than 90 female staff have also been dismissed from state-run kindergartens.

The agreement was reached during an informal trilateral meeting held in Beijing on Wednesday, attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

In a statement released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on regional security and economic development. The trilateral platform, they stated, plays a crucial role in promoting stability, countering terrorism, and enhancing economic connectivity across the region.

The ministers exchanged views on intensifying diplomatic engagement, improving communication, and adopting practical measures to increase trade, develop infrastructure, and drive shared prosperity through mutually beneficial projects.

The expansion of CPEC into Afghanistan was highlighted as a key initiative for integrating Afghanistan into broader regional development efforts. CPEC, a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has primarily focused on infrastructure and energy development across Pakistan. Its extension into Afghanistan is seen as a strategic move to improve regional integration and support Afghanistan’s post-conflict reconstruction.

All three parties underscored the importance of continued cooperation in combating terrorism and fostering long-term peace and development.

The statement also confirmed that the sixth formal trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban will be held in Kabul at a mutually agreed date.

The sentences range from three to five months and are reportedly linked to the instructors’ work teaching English and computer skills.

According to the sources, the teachers were arrested for offering these courses at the centre, although it remains unclear whether their detention was directly related to teaching female students. However, previous similar incidents suggest this may have been a factor.

In January of this year, Taliban intelligence in Sang Takht Wa Bandar district of Daikundi arrested four instructors from another educational centre for teaching English and computer classes to girls. Those teachers were detained briefly and released on bail, and the centre was subsequently shut down.

Sources confirmed that on Monday, 19 May, Raziq Taqipour and Habib Roshan, both computer instructors at Ofuq-e Nowin, were sentenced to five months in prison. Meanwhile, English instructors Asif Rahish, Rashid, Esmat, and Najaf received three-month prison sentences from the court.

These instructors had previously been arrested in January last year, at which time their educational centres were closed. They were released on bail but were summoned again to the district administration office on Monday, where the current sentences were handed down.

Since returning to power nearly four years ago, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on girls’ and women’s education. Girls have been banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade, and all female students have been barred from universities and other higher education institutions.

Her remarks came during the inaugural Termez Dialogue on Central and South Asia Connectivity, which began on Tuesday, 20 May.

The high-level forum gathered approximately 200 participants from Central and South Asia, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East.

The event was organised by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the Presidency of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Speaking at the opening session, Otunbayeva emphasised the importance of constructive regional engagement in addressing the challenges facing Afghanistan. “Efforts by neighbouring countries to resolve the Afghan crisis must be recognised and supported,” she stated.

Mohammad Naeem, Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration of the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, also addressed the conference. He reiterated the Taliban’s commitment to regional stability, saying, “Afghan soil will not be used against any other country, and we expect the same from others. We want to utilise Afghanistan as a hub for connectivity, transit, and commercial, transit, and cultural cooperation.”

Highlighting the Taliban's growing engagement with Uzbekistan, Naeem pointed to several joint infrastructure and economic initiatives, including the Afghan-Trans railway project, a 500-kilovolt power transmission line, and a series of agreements valued at $2.5 billion in energy, agriculture, and industry.

He urged the international community to view the Taliban as “a trustworthy partner” and to invest in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development.

The Termez Dialogue is intended to serve as a multilateral platform for advancing the goals of the 2022 United Nations General Assembly resolution, “Strengthening Connectivity between Central and South Asia.” The conference will continue over the next two days, with discussions focused on enhancing economic integration, transit, and cooperation across the region.

Although Uzbekistan has not formally recognised the Taliban government, it has maintained steady diplomatic and economic engagement with the group since their return to power in 2021.