KABUL, Afghanistan — With winter rapidly approaching, military and civilian retirees across Afghanistan are facing deepening despair as unpaid pensions continue to accumulate—some have not been paid for three years. Many retirees are blaming the Taliban regime for their plight, asserting the government shows little regard for their suffering, plunging numerous families deep below the poverty line.
Among those impacted is Mohammad Zaman, who dedicated 29 years of his life to serving at the Daud Khan Hospital, one of Kabul's largest healthcare facilities. Since the Taliban regained power and the previous Afghan government was dismantled, Zaman has not seen a single pension payment. "It has been three years since we received our pension," he says, visibly distressed. "Now, I am sick and don’t even have the money to buy my medication." His situation is tragically all too common; he worries for his children who often go to bed hungry.
Another former employee of the Kabul municipality, Mohammad Askar, shares similar frustrations over his unpaid pension, which he claims is key to his family's survival. "They should give us our pension; we are in serious trouble," he asserted, reflecting the urgent financial strain many retirees are feeling. “We don’t have enough to cover household expenses. We cannot make ends meet.”
These veterans, who once defended their country, are finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the table. Alam Khan, another retiree, expressed feelings of abandonment after decades of service. “We didn’t commit any crime,” he lamented. “We worked for years, and our pensions have been taken away. This is our right, and we deserve to be paid.”
The Taliban regime has issued vague statements about their pension situation, stating the issue remains under review. Unfortunately, these reassurances have led to little tangible relief for thousands of veterans who feel as though their sacrifices for the country have been entirely disregarded. The Finance Ministry, responsible for such claims, did not respond to inquiries about the problem.
For the retirees—approximately 150,000 strong—as temperatures continue to decrease, there's little clarity about when and if pensions will be reinstated. It’s hard to overlook the stark irony of these individuals, who once held positions of respect, now standing at the precipice of financial ruin.
They are not alone; the impact extends beyond just neglect but also raises concerns about the broader economy's state under Taliban rule. Since the Taliban took control, international funding and foreign aid have plunged, crippling Afghanistan’s economy and leaving most citizens struggling to meet even the most basic needs.
With mounting inflation, many Afghans are now forced to rely on local markets where prices soar, making even staple goods unaffordable. This stark reality reflects the precarious grasp many families have on their financial stability, which grows weaker with each passing day without effective governance or economic reform.
The economy's issues are palpable; the difficulties faced by veterans and retirees mirror the struggles of ordinary citizens as well. Unemployment rates are rising, and fears of food shortages loom heavily. Nearly 95% of Afghans are believed to be living below the poverty line, according to the United Nations. The conditions are dire and could escalate as winter sets in, exacerbated by the families' inability to acquire sufficient food and shelter.
The humanitarian crisis has not gone unnoticed by NGOs and international organizations, many of which express grave concerns about the deteriorative impact on public health, particularly during the harsh winter months. Clinics are reportedly seeing increasing cases of malnutrition and respiratory illnesses, as families lack the resources to stave off the cold.
All across Afghanistan, individuals like Zaman and Khan, forged through resilience and community, are left grappling with the reality of their former lives, striving to provide for their families. The harsh winter months cast shadows not just on their houses but also on their hopes for recovery and reform. Will the Taliban's leadership evolve to address the needs of those they govern?
At the moment, as many look toward staring winter down without aid or support, the only certainty seems to be the struggle to make ends meet amid growing uncertainty. Time will tell whether the Taliban will step up and find solutions to the plight of its retirees, but as it stands, the road to recovery appears unpaved and fraught with challenges.
This situation puts many Afghanistan retirees at the mercy of cold winds and colder realities, forcing them to strike against the harshness of both the environment and political upheaval. The question lingers, can the government find its path toward taking responsibility for the citizens, especially those who once stood alongside its military forces?
