Kabul Retirees Protest Again After Four Years Without Pensions
Retirees in Kabul staged another protest on Saturday, demanding payment of pensions they say have been withheld for four years.
Retirees in Kabul staged another protest on Saturday, demanding payment of pensions they say have been withheld for four years.
The group gathered outside the General Directorate of the Pension Fund, accusing the Taliban of ignoring their repeated demonstrations and failing to address their claims.
Abdul Wasi, one of the protesters, said he has lived without pay since 2021 and has no idea how much longer he must wait. He accused pension officials of deliberately delaying payments and evading responsibility.
The retirees said they timed their latest protest with the fourth anniversary of Taliban rule, hoping their appeals would reach the group’s leadership. Former government employees warned they will continue demonstrations until their pensions are restored.
More than 160,000 retirees regularly received pensions before the Taliban takeover, but the system has since been halted. In December 2023, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued an eight-article decree instructing retirees to apply to special courts to claim benefits. The process has yet to be implemented, and no payments have been made.
