The economy on the brink, Taliban rely on former technocrats
When the Taliban swept into power, they found
Afghanistan’s economy fast approaching the brink and were faced with
harrowing predictions of growing poverty and hunger. So they ordered the
financial managers of the collapsed former government back to work,
with an urgent directive: Do your jobs, because we can’t.
In the 20 years since the Taliban last ruled, Afghanistan evolved from an economy dealing mostly in illicit enterprise to a sophisticated, multi-billion-dollar system fueled by donor aid and international trade. The Taliban, a movement borne out of the rural clergy, struggled to grasp the extent of the transformation.
Four employees from financial institutions told The Associated Press how the Taliban commanded bureaucrats from the previous government’s Finance Ministry, central bank and other state-owned banks to return to work. Their accounts were confirmed by three Taliban officials.
