Taliban-Controlled Central Bank Destroys 660.2 Million Afghanis in Worn Banknotes

DID Press: Afghanistan’s central bank under Taliban control, has announced that it destroyed 660.2 million Afghanis in worn and damaged banknotes after the notes were counted, assessed and inspected.

The bank said the worn banknotes had been collected from the central, eastern and southeastern zones of Afghanistan and were destroyed under the supervision of an appointed committee. The notes included denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 Afghanis, according to Afghan media reports citing the central bank.

The destruction was overseen by Mullah Mohammad Akhund, the bank’s second deputy governor, according to the reports.

Da Afghanistan Bank said the periodic removal of worn banknotes from circulation is intended to support the management of the monetary system and make cash transactions easier. The bank said it replaces damaged notes with new banknotes.

The central bank has previously carried out similar operations. In July 2026, it said it had destroyed more than 1.14 billion Afghanis in old banknotes collected from northern and northeastern zones.

Da Afghanistan Bank’s banking operations department lists the collection and incineration of unfit banknotes among its responsibilities, including organizing programs for the destruction of worn Afghani notes.