Afghanistan on the Brink: Economic Collapse, Humanitarian Crisis, and Rising Crime
As Afghanistan teeters on the edge of economic collapse and humanitarian catastrophe, reports are emerging of a surge in serious crime and concerns about civil unrest plaguing the population. The country is facing a Himalayan winter, already struggling with rising prices, vanishing cash, and unemployment.
The Devastating Reality
- Families are reportedly selling their baby girls to raise money for food as poverty and hunger deepen.
- Law and order breaks down further, with kidnappings and extortion becoming daily occurrences.
- Sources in Kabul indicate that Taliban foot soldiers kill on contract to earn cash as they are not being paid.
The Crime Wave
- Gangs roam the streets in Kabul, stopping, searching, and robbing people at random.
- Armed men regularly stop cars and rob occupants.
- Officials of the former government, intelligence service, and military have been kidnapped from their homes after applying for passports and providing biometric information.
Taliban’s Inability to Cope
- The Taliban government, made up of former fighters with little experience governing, has proved unable to cope with the economic challenges or the deteriorating security situation.
- The inability to tame the crime wave risks sparking civil unrest as the population reaches a breaking point.
The Future Looks Bleak
- As winter sets in, the situation is expected to worsen.
- Eviction is also going to be an issue as most people live in rented homes and can no longer afford to pay rent.
- The Taliban leadership’s inability to deliver services, including security, as a government risks further exacerbating the crisis.
Expert Analysis
- “The Taliban leadership can’t deliver services, including security, as a government because they are more focused on internal power struggles,” said Waliullah Rahmani, an Afghan analyst.
- “That is why people have grown frustrated and this situation needs just a small spark to change to unrest.”