IEA’s 5-year journey: Economic challenges, progress — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Over the past five years since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) returned to power, Afghanistan’s economy has faced challenges including declining foreign aid, frozen Afghan assets and banking restrictions. At the same time, a stronger afghani, controlled inflation, increased domestic revenues and the implementation of several major economic projects have been among the country’s key economic developments. August 15 marks the fifth anniversary of the political change in Afghanistan and the re-establishment of the IEA. Following the return of the Islamic Emirate, the United States froze more than $9 billion in Afghan assets. According to reports, $7 billion of the frozen Afghan assets are held in the United States, while the remainder is in European countries. But what changes and differences has Afghanistan’s economy experienced over the past five years, and what has been done in the country? A Look at Economic Indicators: 2021 to 2026 An examination of economic indicators shows that Afghanistan’s economic situation has undergone various changes over the past five years. According to data from the International Labour Organization, Afghanistan’s unemployment rate was estimated at around 13.3 percent in 2021. World Bank data, which publishes this indicator based on modeled estimates by the ILO, puts Afghanistan’s unemployment rate at 13.4 percent in 2025. Full-year data for 2026 has not yet been published. In…