Following the United Nations‘ warning of an impending global water crisis and the decreasing access to clean drinking water, we are reminded of the water crisis in Afghanistan. Water is a source of pride, publicity, and prosperity in our country. Governments and politicians have attempted to instill a sense of hope for the future in the people by reminding them of the rivers and lakes. Water supply, water control, stream, and dam construction projects have always had an impact on local and national politics, as well as our relations with neighboring countries. As the weakness of the government during the Islamic Republic regime became increasingly evident, officials sought to divert people‘s attention away from the main problem (insecurity) by inaugurating water dams. It is even said that in the near future, we will exchange water for oil. On the other side of the story, the parched fields, villages whose residents had to walk kilometers to access drinking water, cities that expanded without a proper water supply plan, and floods that left houses in ruins, all spoke to the dire water crisis. Everyone was aware that we had a significant amount of fresh water compared to some other countries, but they also knew that they were thirsty and that millions across Afghanistan did not have access to sufficient water in some seasons, and in some cases all seasons.
The Taliban also put on a show of the Qosh Tepa project, with videos and reports of the project being presented to people with flashy advertisements, and every worker and piece of machinery being counted to demonstrate its grandeur. Animations of the possible future of the project, which is full of water and greenery, are mixed with Taliban songs and published. However, people have no hope that this anti–education group will be able to manage vital resources such as water, distribute it efficiently, and quench people‘s thirst. The ability to manage water and the environment is directly related to the awareness, education, and technical and industrial capability of countries, and our people have no chance unless a responsible government takes the matter into their hands. Water management, contrary to the imperfect understanding of the Taliban, is not limited to directing the flowing water to the plains, but requires a balanced cultural, economic, administrative, and political development of the country. A nation where the citizens do not have freedom of choice, education, dress, opinion, speech, and where its ruling administration consider mutual relations with the people as blasphemous and rely on prayers and orders only, cannot be saved from thirst. As they were not saved from thirst by the previous administration, who had robbed the election and was afflicted by the plague of ethnocentrism and widespread corruption.
Examining the disorder that governs our social and individual lives, it is evident that the lack of healthy people–centric administration is more prominent than any other deficiency. Good governance is as essential as fresh water for living organisms. The tyrannical Taliban, which has been placed in the role of the government, is actually a disorderly, lawless and ignorant force whose mission is to destroy public and government institutions and values. Until they are in power, the water crisis will persist.
