UAE and Turkey’s Investment in Taliban Orphanages: Humanitarian Aid or Ideological Support?

The Taliban have established numerous orphanages across different provinces of Afghanistan, where orphaned children are subjected to the group’s ideological education and training. These centers, funded by the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, are entirely controlled and managed by the Taliban.

Orphanages Funded by UAE and Turkey

Reports indicate that the Taliban enroll orphaned children whose parents were killed in the group’s wars, clashes with foreign forces, ISIS, or other armed groups. Some of these orphanages include:

An orphanage in Maidan Wardak, funded with $800,000

Imam Bukhari Orphanage in Paktia (Zurmat district), with a budget of $500,000

An orphanage in Khost, financed with $250,000

An orphanage in Balkh, costing $300,000

While the UAE and Turkey finance these centers under the banner of humanitarian aid, the Taliban’s strict control over the educational content and exclusive supervision by their security officials have raised concerns that these orphanages may be used as training grounds for ideologically driven Taliban fighters.

Taliban’s Tight Control Over Orphanages and Educational Content

The Taliban maintain strict oversight of these centers, allowing only their security and defense officials to inspect them. Additionally, teachers are selected based on their adherence to extremist and takfiri ideologies, making ideological indoctrination a key part of the curriculum.

Taliban Leaders’ Statements: Jihad and Preparing the Next Generation of Islamic Governance

During his visit to the central orphanage in Khost, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Interior Minister under the Taliban regime, announced that, based on the directive of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group will take responsibility not only for the children of their fallen fighters but also for orphaned children from the previous Afghan government.

Haqqani emphasized that these children should be raised as “future soldiers of the Islamic government in Afghanistan” and highlighted the importance of jihad, stating:

“Jihad is a blessing that God bestows upon His chosen servants. It is an honor granted to those who step forward to implement divine laws and fight against infidels.”

Similarly, the governor of Balkh, during his visit to the orphanage in Mazar-e-Sharif, praised the Taliban’s fallen fighters and encouraged the children in these centers to become the “future soldiers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” During the ceremony, many children were seen wearing white and black turbans, as the governor referred to them as the “next generation of the Islamic government.”

Humanitarian Aid or Extremist Ideology Promotion?

Given the Taliban’s complete control over these orphanages, their specific educational curriculum, and their explicit goal of cultivating loyalty to the Islamic Emirate, the question arises: Are these foreign investments truly humanitarian aid, or are they a cover for spreading extremist ideology among Afghanistan’s next generation?