Afghanistan: Two days after seizing power, the Taliban had told everyone to go back to work. (File)
Kabul:
Government employees in Kabul were barred from returning to their offices by Taliban terrorists on Saturday, the first day of the Afghan working week.
Since the hardline Islamist group took power six days ago, government offices, banks, schools and universities have remained largely closed.
Only a few private companies, including telecom companies, have been active since the Taliban returned to power – although there have been two public holidays since then.
The blocking of workers from entering their offices came despite the Taliban’s announcement that they would allow government employees to continue working.
“I went to the office this morning, but the Taliban who were standing at the gate told us they have not received orders to reopen government offices,” Hamdullah said.
“They told us to watch TV or listen to the radio for an announcement about when we could resume work.”
The Taliban have yet to form a government, and in the chaos of a collapsed government, one of the biggest concerns among Afghans is to continue earning a salary.
Two days after taking power, the Taliban announced a general amnesty and told everyone to return to work.
Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has said the group’s new government would be “positively different” from the 1996-2001 regime, notorious for barring women from nearly all aspects of public life.
He also announced a general amnesty.
“Everyone on the other side gets pardons from A to Z,” he said. “We will not seek revenge.”
On Saturday, most roads in the capital were largely deserted, except for the route to the airport, which was packed with people rushing to participate in a US-led evacuation.
Roads leading to the Foreign Ministry in central Kabul were also closed, an official told AFP.
“They don’t let anyone in,” he said on condition of anonymity.
“One of them even told me to wait for the new minister and directors to be appointed.”
The foreign exchange market was also closed as it awaited instructions from the central bank, traders said.
Another Kabul municipality employee said he was disappointed that the Taliban had not reopened their offices yet.
“I came with a lot of hope, but left disappointed,” he said.
However, workers from the offices of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation in Kabul were allowed to enter on presentation of their ID card, an employee there said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
