A new World Bank report reveals that in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, the Taliban allocated nearly 48% of the total budget—96.9 billion Afghanis—to security expenditures.
This heavy military spending comes as the country faces widespread poverty and a predicted 4% drop in per capita income.
The report highlights a troubling deficit, with spending outstripping revenue by two billion Afghanis.
Economists warn that prioritizing security over development, health, and education is exacerbating unemployment and deepening the humanitarian crisis, particularly affecting women and children.
Trade dynamics are also shifting; while exports suffered due to border closures with Pakistan, India has emerged as the top destination for Afghan goods, taking over 61% of exports in December.
However, global bodies warn that without sustainable development, the economic outlook remains grim.
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