Water Provision and Governmental Legitimacy in Afghanistan
Publisher: Climate Diplomacy
Date: 2026
Topics: Economic Recovery, Governance, Renewable Resources
Countries: Afghanistan
Political neglect, ideology and economic hardship drove recruitment for the Taliban in Afghanistan, fuelling a conflict that culminated in the insurgent group’s take-over of the government in 2021. As rural communities depend heavily on water for their livelihoods, pressures on resources due to over-extraction, deficient infrastructures, and mismanagement, as well as climate changes, have contributed and are likely to continue to contribute to conditions that destabilise the country and fuel transboundary tensions. This case first analyses dynamics prior to the Taliban takeover in 2021 before looking at developments since.