Afghanistan economy

The Taliban are gradually increasing revenue streams from resource extraction operations in an effort to minimize the impact of Western pressure. 

The Taliban government must acknowledge the potential loss of international aid and cash shipments next year, and focus on identifying alternative ways to support livelihoods.

The Taliban’s interim government has boasted about its economic success, but few Afghans are feeling a positive impact.

Collaborative efforts among regional and international actors can pave the way for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

While the focus on Afghanistan tends to revolve around geopolitical tensions and security concerns, the slow erosion of the urban middle class is sending the country decades backward.

It’s hard to separate the financial welfare of the Afghan state from the conditions of the people, just as it is difficult to disentangle the Afghan state as it is today from the Taliban. 

While the canal project is a source of promise, it faces many challenges, not the least of which is unease in Central Asia about water security. 

The Taliban are focusing on the countries that are most likely to be interested in investing in Afghanistan, notwithstanding its human rights record or potential for violence. 

Insights from Claudia Chia. 

China is not the first to try to buy stability in Afghanistan. Will Beijing succeed where the U.S. and USSR failed?

Afghanistan announced plans to expand its air corridors as it seeks to reconnect to world markets, but significant challenges loom.

“Half of Afghanistan endures severe hunger throughout the year,” said a World Food Program spokesperson, while Taliban restrictions on women have seriously impacted aid delivery.