On the people
At the border
TAXES
TALIBAN INCOME
Many sources to keep the regime afloat
DRUGS
On mines
United States
OTHER COUNTRIES
Friendly countries
Islamist groups
NO MERCY ON THE PEOPLE
The Taliban tax the people on their income as well as on their property. Afghans are forced to pay this islamic tax. « The people don't have food but the Taliban force them to pay the tax. » Shakir Hayat
Imports and exports
Some countries deal with Afghanistan
Ahmad Zahid, Vice Minister of Commerce and Industry, underlined to AFP « the sinews of war is strategic partnerships ». He underlined the importance of economic links with Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran in particular. In 2023,the three most important countries for Afghan imports were Iran (23%), Pakistan (19%), China (15%), and the United Arab Emirates (15%).
Economic figures of Afghanistan
TAXING goods
On products that come inside the territory they control, the Taliban impose a tax sometimes up to 30% on goods coming in. They can do so, because they control most of the provinces in the country.
21 billion dollars
According to a report by the Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) dated from October 2024, « Since U.S. forces withdrew, the United States has appropriated or otherwise made available $21.06 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and to Afghan refugees ». Money that goes in the Taliban pockets. Every 10 to 14 days, about 80 million dollars cash are delivered in Kabul by the UN to circumvent international sanctions.
SIGAR report from October 2024
US aid is still vital to Afghanistan
Picture: The United States departing Afghanistan, 2020-2021. (US Army)
Surviving with others money
The United States departed Afghanistan in 2020, which gave the Taliban to then take over the country. However, Americans still finance the regime. The terrorist regime of Taliban relies a lot on international help. Even if there are sanctions on bank wires and financial assets, many friendly countries such as Russia, China, Iran or Pakistan invest in Afghanistan. The Taliban can also rely on the money from other islamists groups.
Ideology in common
The Taliban tax the people on their income as well as on their property. Afghans are forced to pay this islamic tax. « The people don't have food but the Taliban force them to pay the tax. » Shakir Hayat
Picture: Afghans in Farah Province destroy a poppy field. Poppies are used in the production of opium. (ISAF photo/U.S. Air Force)
Getting rid of opium, exploiting narcotics
When they took over the country in 2021, the Taliban specifically targeted the regions with poppy fields. This was a way for them to have a new revenue source: drug traficking. However, in April 2022, they « strickly forbade » opium production. According to UN figures, poppy fields cultivation dropped from 233,000 to 10,800 in 2023. This led to a decrese in opium offer from 6,200 tons in 2022 to 333 tons in 2023. Still according to the UN, this reduction of opium production trafficking hides the development of new kinds of traficking. Among them, fentanyl or metamphetamine production are rising. Seizure of these drugs have multiplied by twelve between 2019 and 2021.
To go further — the UN figures
Monopolising
The Taliban seek to exploit Afghanistan underground. They build mines and disposess those who exploit them by taxing or seizing. « In the Pandjchir region, there is emerald excavating. The Taliban save the emerald for themselves. » Mr. Hayat
TALiban take advantage of afghanistan
Twenty years after the fall of the regime, the Taliban came back to power in 2021. Before controlling the national government, they were already active in some provinces of the country. Today, they control most provinces which allow them to tax people, frontiers, and other activities such as mines. All this is possible thanks to their reign of terror and their firm grip on the population. The restrictions directly impact the national economy. Many Afghans are forced to stop or hide their activities. Others see their revenue decline.
Taliban sources of income
Théo Lheure
Created on February 5, 2025
Taliban receive money from various sources: tax on the people, drugs, and even foreign countries such as the US.
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Transcript
On the people
At the border
TAXES
TALIBAN INCOME
Many sources to keep the regime afloat
DRUGS
On mines
United States
OTHER COUNTRIES
Friendly countries
Islamist groups
NO MERCY ON THE PEOPLE
The Taliban tax the people on their income as well as on their property. Afghans are forced to pay this islamic tax. « The people don't have food but the Taliban force them to pay the tax. » Shakir Hayat
Imports and exports
Some countries deal with Afghanistan
Ahmad Zahid, Vice Minister of Commerce and Industry, underlined to AFP « the sinews of war is strategic partnerships ». He underlined the importance of economic links with Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran in particular. In 2023,the three most important countries for Afghan imports were Iran (23%), Pakistan (19%), China (15%), and the United Arab Emirates (15%).
Economic figures of Afghanistan
TAXING goods
On products that come inside the territory they control, the Taliban impose a tax sometimes up to 30% on goods coming in. They can do so, because they control most of the provinces in the country.
21 billion dollars
According to a report by the Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) dated from October 2024, « Since U.S. forces withdrew, the United States has appropriated or otherwise made available $21.06 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and to Afghan refugees ». Money that goes in the Taliban pockets. Every 10 to 14 days, about 80 million dollars cash are delivered in Kabul by the UN to circumvent international sanctions.
SIGAR report from October 2024
US aid is still vital to Afghanistan
Picture: The United States departing Afghanistan, 2020-2021. (US Army)
Surviving with others money
The United States departed Afghanistan in 2020, which gave the Taliban to then take over the country. However, Americans still finance the regime. The terrorist regime of Taliban relies a lot on international help. Even if there are sanctions on bank wires and financial assets, many friendly countries such as Russia, China, Iran or Pakistan invest in Afghanistan. The Taliban can also rely on the money from other islamists groups.
Ideology in common
The Taliban tax the people on their income as well as on their property. Afghans are forced to pay this islamic tax. « The people don't have food but the Taliban force them to pay the tax. » Shakir Hayat
Picture: Afghans in Farah Province destroy a poppy field. Poppies are used in the production of opium. (ISAF photo/U.S. Air Force)
Getting rid of opium, exploiting narcotics
When they took over the country in 2021, the Taliban specifically targeted the regions with poppy fields. This was a way for them to have a new revenue source: drug traficking. However, in April 2022, they « strickly forbade » opium production. According to UN figures, poppy fields cultivation dropped from 233,000 to 10,800 in 2023. This led to a decrese in opium offer from 6,200 tons in 2022 to 333 tons in 2023. Still according to the UN, this reduction of opium production trafficking hides the development of new kinds of traficking. Among them, fentanyl or metamphetamine production are rising. Seizure of these drugs have multiplied by twelve between 2019 and 2021.
To go further — the UN figures
Monopolising
The Taliban seek to exploit Afghanistan underground. They build mines and disposess those who exploit them by taxing or seizing. « In the Pandjchir region, there is emerald excavating. The Taliban save the emerald for themselves. » Mr. Hayat
TALiban take advantage of afghanistan
Twenty years after the fall of the regime, the Taliban came back to power in 2021. Before controlling the national government, they were already active in some provinces of the country. Today, they control most provinces which allow them to tax people, frontiers, and other activities such as mines. All this is possible thanks to their reign of terror and their firm grip on the population. The restrictions directly impact the national economy. Many Afghans are forced to stop or hide their activities. Others see their revenue decline.