8am: Several private construction and logistics companies say that officials in the Taliban’s contract facilitation sector are extorting and demanding bribes from them. According to these companies, the Taliban impose restrictions and create obstacles, demanding a specific share in every project, and if payments are not made, they not only reject applications but also create additional problems for the companies. They emphasize that if the officials’ demands are not accepted, issues are deliberately created under the pretext of rejecting “offers,” and there is no independent body to address their complaints. Click here to read more (external link).