Despite three years of improved security following the end of the Taliban insurgency, Afghanistan’s economy remains stagnant and its population vulnerable to a worsening humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations, a third of Afghanistan’s population of around 40 million subsist on bread and tea, there is widespread unemployment, and the World Bank has warned of zero growth over the next three years.
But there have been some positive changes since the Taliban came to power in 2021 – even though their government is not recognised by any other country.
The currency has become flexible, corruption is no longer pervasive, and tax collection has improved.
According to Deputy Commerce and Industry Minister Ahmad Zahid, officials have also established “economic, commercial, transit and investment” ties in the region.
Afghanistan has enormous mineral and agricultural potential, which the Taliban government is attempting to exploit, but is hampered by poor infrastructure and a lack of domestic and foreign expertise and capital.
Although Afghans welcome improved security in their lives, many of them are simply trying to get by.
Ahead of the anniversary of the fall of Kabul this week, AFP spoke to four people from different parts of the country:
optimistic businessman
For Azizullah Rahmati, 54, business is booming – his saffron company in the western province of Herat is set to double production this year.
Until 2021, his “Red Gold Saffron Company” hired armed guards to transport the valuable spice from the factory to the airport, but an improved security environment has eliminated the need for such direct protection.
“There is no problem now,” said Rahmati, who exports to 27 countries.
At their processing plant, women use tongs to separate the red stigmas of the precious saffron spice.
Restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban government have reduced their participation in the workforce, but Rahmati’s company is among the 50 percent of Afghan employers who still hire women.
Still, a major challenge for Rahmati – and Afghanistan as a whole – is the plight of the banking sector.
“It is very important that banking channels are reopened,” said Sulaiman bin Shah, deputy trade minister in the previous government.
The sector has been stymied by international sanctions and the central bank’s asset freeze.
Rahmati’s bank cannot send money abroad – or receive transfers – meaning he has to resort to more expensive private money changers in Dubai.
Getting visa to travel abroad is also a big problem.
Many foreign countries closed their embassies following the Taliban takeover, and the Henley Index, which tracks global travel ease, ranks the Afghan passport as the worst in the world.
“We will retreat from the world market,” Rahmati said.
The unemployed musician
Wahid Nekzai Logari performed with the National Orchestra of Afghanistan and performed on the traditional string instrument sarinda as well as harmonium.
“I provided for my whole family. We had a good life,” the 46-year-old said in his modest home in a Kabul suburb.
But the Taliban government has banned the public performance of music and declared it un-Islamic, leaving thousands of people involved in the industry destitute.
“Now I am unemployed,” Loghari said.
To support his family of seven, he sometimes drives a taxi – earning him just 5,000 afghanis ($70) a month, a fifth of what he earns from his concerts.
He said, “Nobody told us, ‘You can’t play music anymore, but we’ll find a way to provide for your family.'”
Rebel-turned-bureaucrat
Abdul Wali Shaheen wanted to die a “martyr’s death” in the Taliban, but after their victory, he exchanged his rocket launcher for a computer at the Department of Information and Culture in Ghazni province.
“I wasn’t as stressed then as I am now,” the 31-year-old said wryly.
“We had just started jihad, now it has become even more difficult. My responsibilities towards the people have increased even more.”
Still, Shaheen’s monthly salary of 10,000 Afghanis is enough to support her family of five, and she is happy with the country’s progress.
“I give Emirates 10/10 for these three years,” he said.
“Everything is going well and we are hopeful about the future.”
Hidden Beautician
The order to close beauty salons last year “broke her heart”, but Saida – not her real name – secretly opened salons elsewhere in Kabul four months ago.
“We rented this place on the condition that customers come very discreetly and some of our staff sleep here so that the neighbours think that a family lives here,” the 21-year-old manager said.
“Earlier we used to have 30 to 40 customers a day, now it’s six or seven,” said Saida. Still, she has kept her 25 employees so “everyone can have an income.”
Saida’s salary has dropped from 25,000 afghanis per month to between 8,000 and 12,000.
“We are working secretly and we don’t know how long we will have to work,” he said, underlining the danger of being stopped by the police.
He said that when he “found some underground saloons, he broke the equipment, mistreated the staff” and imposed fines.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
