Afghanistan’s capital city is in ruins and its people are in despair. After years of war, Kabul has witnessed the erosion of its cultural, social and economic fabric to the extent the government has been rendered incapable of providing and protecting its own people.
Kabul today is way different from the city beaming with promise in 2014 when a democratic election was underway. Back then, the nation was deeply optimistic of a new dawn that would be ushered by fresh leadership and the exit of the last western forces.
Barely a year afterwards, Kabul’s security has deteriorated significantly, as compared to southern provinces where western armed forces are still present. Insiders are blaming the spiking insecurity to a rise in insurgency and the withdrawal of U.S. led western troops. Foreign military presence brought with it a large and financially stable economic market that has since been lost.
Analysts have also attributed Kabul’s collapse to its incompetent government. Through placing complete control of the country and its resources to the popularly elected government that did not have a clear plan for the country, the stage was set for a disaster.
Analysts now predict the only way to rescue the falling state would be through the moderation of frustrations and sustained security. However, this will be problematic considering Afghanistan’s poor economic record.
Estimates put Afghanistan’s population at 28 million, 76 per cent of whom live in the rural area while 13 million citizens suffer varying levels of food insecurity. Gender inequalities have seen many girls fail to get an education while over three decades of war have left the adult population relegated to less than 50 per cent of the population. Almost half of Afghanistan’s population is below 14.
The Taliban insurgency that’s experiencing internal succession battles, after leader Mullah Mansour was killed, has left countless fractions broken out. These breakout groups have either established independent groups or gone to fight with ISIS.
Afghanistan now seems like it can only survive through support from western states. Aid coming in to spur the numerous youth into education while improving food security for the country’s people will go along way to resurrecting the fallen state. If the path it is on now continues it is likely to just breed more poverty and more terrorism.
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