“The safety of the people is assured compared to the past as the Taliban have control in all 34 provinces … Within the last two years, security concerns were addressed and people can travel to any province without any fear. Thus, we can say a huge difference can be seen compared to the past,” Shinwari told Arab News. “People can feel safety and stability from the past two years but there are (also) economic problems,” he added. Afghanistan’s aid-dependent economy plunged into a freefall after the Taliban took over, but the World Bank reported last month that the local currency, the afghani, gained value against major currencies as exports increased by 9 percent between January and May this year. It also noted an improvement in job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled laborers since March 2023. However, over half of Afghan households still “struggle to maintain their livelihoods and consumption,” according to the World Bank.
