A major corruption scandal within the Taliban administration has led to the arrest of at least five senior officials from the public health ministry, exposing serious governance failures, internal power struggles, and growing concerns over the misuse of international aid.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, those detained include Noorullah Darwish, head of documents and communications at the ministry, along with several high-ranking officials closely associated with Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali. The arrested individuals reportedly include the minister’s chief of staff, a senior administrator, a secretary, and a petitions manager.
The arrests were carried out by the Taliban’s intelligence wing, known as Directorate 08, which has assumed powers similar to a major crimes division. After approximately one week in custody, the detainees were transferred to Directorate 40 an intelligence unit widely associated with interrogations and detention practices.
Sources indicate that the officials are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for issuing licenses to pharmacies and wholesale medicine distributors. Allegedly, payments of around $5,000 were demanded for pharmacy permits and $3,500 for wholesale licenses practices that raise serious concerns about systemic corruption within one of the country’s most critical public service sectors.
The scandal has also highlighted internal fractures within the Taliban leadership. Sources report that Minister Jalali initially attempted to block the arrests, delaying action for nearly a week. However, officials from Directorate 08 reportedly intervened, warning that any further obstruction could result in action against the minister himself.
Analysts view the episode as a clear manifestation of deepening rivalries between factions aligned with the Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and those linked to the influential Haqqani network. While such divisions have surfaced in administrative disputes before, direct action against senior officials marks a significant escalation in internal tensions.
The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time for Afghanistan’s already fragile health sector, which remains heavily dependent on international assistance. Between 2021 and early 2026, the sector received approximately $794 million in humanitarian aid far short of the estimated $1.7 billion required to sustain essential services. Additional support exceeding $800 million has been committed by the World Bank, while organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF continue to play a critical role in maintaining healthcare delivery.
Despite these efforts, access to healthcare remains inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. Restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s education especially in medical training have exacerbated shortages of female healthcare workers, undermining service delivery in a system already strained by limited resources.
Experts warn that the unfolding corruption scandal and visible internal discord could further erode international confidence, jeopardizing vital aid flows. Donor organizations have repeatedly emphasized transparency and accountability as prerequisites for continued support—standards that appear increasingly difficult to uphold under current conditions.
The arrests not only underscore systemic corruption within Taliban-run institutions but also reflect broader governance challenges, raising serious questions about the group’s ability to manage critical public sectors while maintaining internal cohesion.
