Kabul Faces Dire Water Crisis, Risking Complete Depletion by 2030

Kabul is facing an alarming water crisis, with forecasts suggesting the city’s underground aquifers could be completely depleted by 2030 if current trends persist. According to experts, water levels in these aquifers have plunged by up to 30 meters in the last decade, leading to nearly half of the city’s boreholes—its primary drinking water source—having run dry. Approximately 7 million residents are at risk as water extraction exceeds natural replenishment by 44 million cubic meters annually. Adding to the crisis, up to 80% of Kabul's groundwater is reported to be contaminated with sewage, salinity, and arsenic, rendering it unsafe for consumption. Many households allocate up to 30% of their income to secure clean water, pushing some into debt. A significant population increase from under 1 million to 7 million since 2001 has exacerbated the demand for water. Weak regulatory frameworks permit private companies to drill wells and sell water at inflated prices, compounding the issue. Dayne Curry, Mercy Corps’ country director, stated that “short-term fixes aren’t enough” and emphasized the need for long-term investment and political commitment to avert disaster.

Toyosi Osideinde, a 30-year-old financial adviser from Bath, UK, has gained media attention for crossing into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for a holiday, asserting he enjoyed a romantic encounter with a Taliban member. According to the New York Post, Osideinde, who has traveled to 69 countries in search of "extreme travel," described Afghanistan as his most daring destination yet. Osideinde flew to Islamabad, Pakistan, and traveled to the Afghan border, where he was interviewed by armed Taliban officials at the Afghan embassy before beginning his journey. Over 11 days, he explored local villages, markets, and even dined with locals, expressing surprise at seeing women working and wearing makeup in public, challenging his beliefs about life under Taliban rule. He reported feeling like a celebrity during his visit and claimed to have developed a bond with a hotel security guard associated with the Taliban, spending time together and even watching "Gossip Girl." Notably, he maintained a low profile due to safety concerns, as highlighted by his experience using Grindr in various countries—except in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

Over half a million U.S. weapons and military equipment, primarily obtained by the Taliban, have reportedly been lost, sold, or smuggled into the hands of militant groups, according to sources cited by the BBC. Following the Taliban's takeover in 2021, they acquired approximately one million pieces of military hardware, much of which was funded by U.S. taxpayers. Sources reveal that, during a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee in Doha, the Taliban admitted that around half of the military equipment is unaccounted for. UN reports indicate that groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, have either accessed or purchased these weapons on the black market. While Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat claims that all arms are securely stored, former Afghan officials dispute this, stating that local commanders are allowed to keep a portion of seized weapons, fostering a thriving black market. Furthermore, the U.S. accountability measures for the equipment left behind have been criticized for being insufficient and unreliable, complicating tracking efforts.