> Kabul, a capital of over six million souls, stands at the edge of a silent collapse.
As groundwater vanishes, taps run dry, and diseases spread, the Afghan government under Taliban rule remains dangerously unequipped to respond. What was once a solvable environmental challenge has evolved into a deepening humanitarian disaster—one the regime neither understands nor is capable of addressing.
A Capital Without Water
For over two decades, Kabul has relied heavily on groundwater. But unregulated well-drilling, reckless urban expansion, and years of drought have depleted natural reserves beyond repair.
Groundwater levels have dropped by 25–30 meters in a single decade.
Over 120,000 illegal wells pump unchecked.
80% of the remaining water is contaminated with sewage, industrial waste, and chemicals.
Half the existing wells have already dried up.
UNICEF warns Kabul could become the first modern capital to run entirely out of water by 2030, potentially displacing over 3 million people.
A Regime Built for War, Not Water
The Taliban government continues to operate with a militant mindset, prioritizing ideological control and military posturing over governance, services, and development. Ministries are led by unqualified loyalists, and environmental policies are non-existent.
Since the collapse of the Islamic Republic and the abrupt halt in international aid, Afghanistan has lost more than $3 billion in critical development funding, including for water infrastructure.
> “There is no plan. No leadership. No vision. The Taliban doesn’t know how to build a country—only how to control one,” said a former urban planner from Kabul, speaking anonymously.
Beyond Environmental Collapse: A Looming Social Explosion
The water crisis has triggered a chain reaction:
Public schools and health clinics are closing due to lack of clean water.
Water prices have tripled in some neighborhoods.
Thousands of families have been forced to migrate within the city or flee to rural areas.
Private companies exploit the desperation, selling extracted groundwater at exorbitant rates.
According to a 2008 Oxfam survey, over 40% of local disputes in Afghanistan were water-related—a figure experts warn will surge.
Ignored by the World, Abandoned by Its Rulers
The international community remains largely disengaged, while the Taliban have shown no capacity to design or implement long-term solutions.
Efforts to revive critical infrastructure—like the silted-up Qargha Dam—have stalled. No strategic national water policy exists. Climate change, especially reduced snowfall in the Hindu Kush, is accelerating the crisis.
> “This is no longer just an environmental emergency—it’s a full-blown failure of statehood,” said a regional analyst.
The Way Forward: If Any
Experts and civil society voices stress urgent actions:
Enforce restrictions on illegal well drilling
Invest in rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling
Rebuild ties with international donors and NGOs for water and sanitation projects
Design a realistic national climate adaptation strategy
But without a shift in political mindset—from militancy to governance—these solutions may never leave the page.
