Taliban Seek Japan’s Help to Resume Kabul Water Supply Project
The Taliban administration has appealed to Japan for assistance in reviving a stalled water supply project aimed at providing sustainable drinking water to Kabul residents.
Mohammad Hanif, appointed by the Taliban as head of the Ministry of Economy, raised the request during a meeting with Mai Kiyo Izawa, Japan’s deputy ambassador in Kabul. He urged Japan to resume its previous cooperation on the capital’s water project.
The initiative, launched in December 2020 with $24 million in Japanese funding, was suspended after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and international aid was halted. Since then, the project has seen no progress.
According to a statement released Monday, September 31, the Japanese deputy envoy pledged to convey the request to her government for consideration. Urban development analysts warn that prolonged delays in such projects will have damaging effects on Kabul residents, who already struggle with severe water shortages.
Providing essential services like drinking water is a fundamental responsibility of any governing body. Yet, four years into Taliban rule, basic needs remain unmet, forcing the administration to rely heavily on foreign aid for infrastructure. The international community has repeatedly expressed concerns about the Taliban’s lack of transparency, human rights abuses, and absence of legitimate governance structures.
