The US State Department's 2026 annual Trafficking in Persons report has stated that the Taliban and "other armed groups" in Afghanistan, including ISIS-Khorasan and the National Resistance Front, unlawfully recruit and use children for combat and support roles. The report keeps Afghanistan in "Tier 3," indicating the country does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
According to the report, children are used to plant and detonate explosives, carry weapons, conduct espionage, and guard bases. The State Department says the Taliban recruit children through coercion and deception from schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, enrolling them in jihadi madrassas that provide military training.
The report also highlights "bacha bazi" as an ongoing concern, noting that in some cases, Taliban members have been the perpetrators. Victims are typically boys aged 10 to 18, who are sometimes abducted or sold by impoverished families.
Although the Taliban have established a commission to identify and remove children from their ranks, and an international organization secured the release of 58 children, the US report emphasizes that the Taliban have not implemented effective measures to prevent child recruitment.
The report also addresses a new anti-trafficking law introduced by the Taliban in January. The State Department argues that the law lacks a clear definition of human trafficking and that its prescribed penalties are not sufficiently severe. Legal experts have also raised concerns about its vague definitions and reliance on forced confessions.
The vulnerability of women and girls has significantly increased due to Taliban restrictions on movement, education, and employment. The report adds that returnees from Iran and Pakistan, as well as ethnic and religious minorities like the Hazaras, are also increasingly at risk of exploitation.
Finally, the State Department clarified that the use of the term "Taliban" in the report does not imply recognition of them as the government of Afghanistan by the United States.
Source: 2026 US Department of State Report
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