Economic Pulse

Two Afghan women wearing black clothing and headscarves, one with a yellow scarf, sit on the floor of a Women Empowerment Center in Kabul, weaving fabric and string. They are engaged in skill development activities, with sewing machines and other workers visible in the background.

The Cost of Isolation: Afghanistan’s Financial Challenges and Development Prospects

Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced severe financial isolation. Cut off from the global banking system, international financial institutions remain hesitant to engage with the Taliban-led administration. This has exacerbated an …More

A woman wearing a brown burqa sits on a hospital bed holding a malnourished infant, with hospital items on a nearby table.

U.S. Aid Suspension Sparks Economic Crisis in Afghanistan: Currency Decline and Rising Food Prices

2 months ago Patsun Bahram Kheil

The U.S. government’s suspension of all foreign aid, following an executive order by President Donald Trump, has triggered a significant economic impact in Afghanistan, worsening the country’s already fragile humanitarian situation. The Afghan currency (AFN) …More

Taliban Claim Heavy Spending on Counter-Narcotics, Criticize Lack of International Aid

2 months ago Patsun Bahram Kheil

As the season for poppy and other crop cultivation begins in parts of Afghanistan, the Taliban-led government reiterates its enforcement of the ban on poppy cultivation under the decree of the group’s supreme leader. Officials …More

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan's Special Envoy to Afghanistan, seated on the left, meets Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Commerce Minister, on the right. They sit in a formal setting, with flags and a table between them, discussing trade and economic cooperation.

Pakistan Eases Afghan Trade Restrictions via Gwadar Port: A Boost or a Limited Move?

2 months ago Dawood Imtiaz

Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, has announced a significant policy change to facilitate Afghan trade. The government has decided to replace bank guarantees with insurance for Afghan goods transiting through the Gwadar …More

Afghan women and girls studying in a female-only library in Kabul, surrounded by bookshelves, highlighting their effort to pursue education independently after being banned from formal schooling.

The Impact of Women’s Education on Afghanistan’s Economy: A Missed Opportunity

2 months ago Walma Zala

A recent study by Harry Anthony Patrinos, in collaboration with World Bank education expert Raja Bentaouet Kattan and American University economist Rafiuddin Najam, underscores the profound economic benefits of investing in women’s education in Afghanistan. …More