Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Rise Under Taliban Rule, US Report Finds

Washington: The US Department of State’s 2026 annual report has highlighted a rise in serious cases of human trafficking and child exploitation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, stating that the authorities have failed to effectively address these abuses.

According to the report, rising poverty, unemployment and economic insecurity have made ordinary and vulnerable Afghans easy targets for human traffickers. The US Department of State stated that the Taliban authorities had failed to meet the minimum international standards for eliminating human trafficking and had not taken effective practical measures to tackle the problem.

The report also highlighted the continued forced recruitment of children for military and support activities, as well as their sexual exploitation under Taliban rule. It said the Taliban government had failed to prevent human trafficking and had not provided a verified record of measures to protect victims or prosecute offenders.

Meanwhile, United Nations agencies have also expressed concern, warning that women, children and heavily indebted families in Afghanistan face serious risks of forced labour, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, further worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis.