RASC News Agency: As Ramadan draws to a close, the streets and markets of Afghanistan remain eerily devoid of festivity. The usual hallmarks of Eid the joyous laughter of children, the bustling energy of families shopping for new clothes and sweets have been replaced by hollow faces and sorrowful eyes, belonging to those who cannot even afford a piece of dry bread. In conversations with RASC, numerous citizens lamented that they have not only been stripped of the ability to buy new clothes or festive delicacies but are also struggling to secure even a single meal. A man, standing outside a shop and gazing longingly at the garments behind the glass, murmured in a trembling voice: “In previous years, no matter how little, I could buy something for my children. But this year, I cannot even afford bread. My children ask me for new clothes, yet I cannot meet their eyes without shame.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s economy has plunged into freefall. Businesses have shuttered, trade has collapsed, and thousands of employees and laborers have been left jobless. Now, the majority of the population is either forced into begging or facing the unthinkable reality of selling their own children to survive. A mother, cradling her infant in her arms, tearfully confessed: “May God forgive me, but I have no choice. Either I sell my child, or I let him starve to death. My husband is unemployed, and there is nothing left in our home to eat.” While most Afghanistani citizens struggle to afford even a loaf of bread, a starkly different reality unfolds in certain city districts markets teeming with lavish shoppers, reveling in opulence. These individuals, predominantly Taliban members and their families Pashtuns who have amassed wealth and power since the group’s resurgence arrive in luxury vehicles, spend extravagantly, and cast contemptuous glances at the starving populace.
A shopkeeper in Kabul told RASC: “Our only customers now are the Taliban and their families. They make exorbitant purchases with money from unknown sources, while ordinary people cannot even afford a kilogram of fruit. Meanwhile, they buy bulk packages of dried fruit and designer clothing without hesitation.” The Taliban have no strategy for economic or social recovery. Their governance is defined by repression, control, and the perpetuation of fear. International aid intended to alleviate the suffering of the poor is diverted to Taliban officials and their inner circles. Thousands of families who once sustained themselves through daily labor have been left without any source of income, yet Taliban members and their families live in extravagant palaces, indulging in luxuries beyond the reach of the average citizen.
An elderly man, sitting on the roadside with outstretched hands, choked back tears as he said: “The Taliban claim to be Muslims, but what kind of Muslim inflicts such suffering upon his own people? They wear silk garments while leaving their countrymen to starve in misery.” In the past, despite financial hardships, Eid was still a time of joy for many families. Children wore new clothes, people visited their relatives, and simple yet warm-hearted feasts were shared. But this year, for most Afghanistanis, Eid is nothing more than a season of sorrow and tears.
In one corner of the city, a young boy stood beside his mother, wistfully gazing at a shop filled with sweets. When asked about his Eid wish, he sighed and said: “I wish my father were alive. I wish we, too, could wear new clothes like others. But now, we don’t even have bread.” And so, while the Taliban indulge in extravagant celebrations, the majority of Afghanistani citizens struggle to hold on to life itself. This Eid, for countless families, is nothing but a bitter reminder of hunger, despair, and the unbearable shame of being unable to provide for their children.
