RASC News Agency: Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, poverty and unemployment have soared, forcing thousands to flee the country, while others, overwhelmed by economic despair, have taken their own lives. Sitez, an economic expert, told RASC that unemployment has reached unprecedented levels under Taliban rule, severely impacting millions of lives. He emphasized that the economic crisis deepened dramatically after the Taliban seized power, with widespread business closures, political instability, and a mass exodus of investors further crippling the economy.
“As an economist specializing in this field, I can say with certainty that living conditions in Afghanistan have deteriorated significantly. Since the collapse of the previous government, unemployment has surged, triggering an economic and social crisis of immense scale. Young people, particularly university graduates, face immense difficulties finding employment, and for many, daily survival has become a struggle,” Sitez explained.
He also noted that the Taliban’s draconian policies have intensified poverty and joblessness. “Their restrictive regulations on individuals and businesses have not only exacerbated economic hardship and despair but have also heightened social and security risks,” he added. The World Food Programme (WFP) has already warned that Afghanistan is on the verge of a catastrophic food crisis, cautioning that without immediate international intervention, the country could face an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
Despite these alarming conditions, the Taliban have taken no meaningful steps to address unemployment or alleviate poverty over the past three years, focusing instead on consolidating their power. The group has even failed to pay government employees for the past three months. Many experts attribute Afghanistan’s severe economic collapse to the Taliban’s governance, arguing that their takeover plunged the country deeper into financial ruin. Moreover, the Taliban have consistently misappropriated foreign aid intended for the Afghanistani people, failing to provide even the most basic support for the nation’s struggling population.
