Women in administrative positions who do not work regularly see their salaries reduced to 5,000 Afghanis (US$70). Yet it is the Taliban regime that prevents women from leaving their homes. Despite several rounds of talks, the international community has still not found a solution to resolve the political and economic stalemate in Afghanistan.

Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – After banishing them to their homes, the Taliban have cut the salaries of female public sector workers, the Taliban Finance Ministry said in a statement following a decree by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The revised policy states that active female employees who do not report to work regularly or do not perform their duties as described in their job description will receive a monthly salary and benefits capped at 5,000 Afghanis or US$70. This represents a reduction of up to 75 percent in their wages.

Before the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, some Afghan women were able to earn good money under the Western-backed Afghan government. For example, university lecturers were paid 35,000 Afghanis, while women in administrative positions could earn up to 20,000 Afghanis. This was later reduced to 15,000 by the Taliban authorities.

When the country fell to the Islamic “students,” Afghan assets abroad were frozen to prevent them from falling into the hands of the new masters. The Biden administration moved $3.5 billion to a Swiss trust fund to be used “for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan,” while another $6 billion remains frozen.

Today, more than 20 million people, about half the population, live below the poverty line. After decades of war, it is often widows who have to provide for the family.

“It is impossible to live on this income,” said the mother of a former primary school teacher who earned 0 per month until three years ago. “Our financial problems have gotten out of hand.”

Other women told local media that with this wage cut they can barely feed a family of seven for two weeks.

This is yet another violation of the freedoms of Afghan women, who no longer have access to higher education or freedom of movement.

In March, the Taliban issued a decree that provides for stoning for so-called “moral crimes,” such as sexual relations outside marriage or running away from home, often done to escape domestic violence. Not surprisingly, suicides have increased.

“Keeping women at home is already a big problem for us. We are in a very bad mental and psychological condition. And now that our salaries have decreased, it has only gotten worse,” said a 25-year-old woman who works for the Information and Culture Department outside Kabul.

The international community has so far failed to find a solution to the political and economic impasse in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, the third round of UN-led talks concluded in Doha, Qatar. Several governments were present, including the Taliban for the first time. The Taliban were not invited to the first round and refused to attend the second round because of the presence of Afghan civil society organizations, including some women’s rights activists.

When the latter were excluded, the Taliban agreed to send a delegation.

After the predictable criticism, UN officials noted that no country officially recognizes the Taliban government, despite the presence of several foreign embassies in Kabul.

“I want to emphasize that this meeting and this process of engagement does not mean normalization or recognition,” he said. Rosemary DiCarloUnited Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

According to some expertsMullah Hibatullah Akhundzada and his clerical clique in Kandahar continue to pursue obscurantist policies and are not interested in formal recognition of their government or financial aid.

“We are now involved in the process that is going to be a long-term process. This is not an easy thing to go through and we will continue to try to do the best we can. It will not make everyone happy,” DiCarlo added after the meeting in Doha.

No date has yet been set for the next round of talks.