Afghanistan Green Trend (AGT) has reported that due to security concerns related to their leader, the Taliban substantially increased police presence in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, quadrupling the numbers compared to other regions.
AGT, led by Amrullah Saleh, stated that the police force numbers have surged to 22,500 in Kandahar and 16,000 in Helmand.
This augmentation includes special units designated for the protection of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's leader, alongside his personal specialised units.
According to AGT, this extensive deployment may be motivated by Akhundzada's concerns over his security. Kandahar, being the residence of Akhundzada, serves as the Taliban's power stronghold.
The report further highlights that a significant portion of Afghanistan's budget, approximately seventy percent, is allocated to the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, the Taliban's intelligence services, and Akhundzada’s office.
The Ministry of Interior alone, as reported by AGT, has an annual budget of 78 billion Afghanis, making up 31% of the Taliban's total budget. Notably, nearly 20% of this budget is specifically expended in Helmand and Kandahar, surpassing the combined spending of five central provinces.
Additionally, the report notes that of 220,000 staff in the Ministry of Interior, half are officers. AGT emphasised that in this ministry, there is a one-to-one ratio of officers to policemen.
Under the leadership of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Ministry of Interior has been instrumental in creating employment opportunities for Taliban militias by appointing them as officers, thus securing their financial and occupational status.
