Rural communities across Afghanistan are witnessing improved security and a gradual revival of local commercial activities five years after the U.S. military withdrawal, though returning migrant workers and rising unemployment are casting a shadow over the recovery.
On August 30, 2021, the U.S. and allied forces hurriedly withdrew from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war that had devastated the country. Since 2023, the interim Afghan government has designated August 31 as the "Departure Day," a somber reminder of the human toll of the conflict.
In the rural markets of Logar Province, most shops have reopened their doors. Merchants recall that during the war, restricted movement and shortened operating hours made daily business nearly impossible.
Today, with people venturing out more freely, stores have resumed full-day operations.
"The security situation has improved. This area used to be ravaged by war, but now the fighting has stopped. The market is looking up, and shops stay open until late at night," said Tamim Ahmad, a shopkeeper in rural Logar Province.
The end of hostilities has also unlocked infrastructure construction across much of the country, including rural areas. A steadier security climate has given locals renewed confidence to rebuild and invest.
"From an economic standpoint, things are good because reconstruction has been completed and road construction is ongoing. The market is also doing very well," said Hamidullah Nezrabi, another shopkeeper in rural Logar Province.
Still, the relative calm has brought fresh strains. As large numbers of Afghan workers return home from jobs in Iran and elsewhere, the influx is putting new pressure on local employment.
"The market has grown bigger, and new markets have been built, but sales are not what they used to be because the economy is weaker than before. Things used to be prosperous, when most people worked in Iran and sent money back, and their families would spend it here in the market. Now, with so many returnees pouring in, unemployment has gone up," said Ahmad.
Five years after the war flames cleared, Afghanistan's economy is inching toward recovery. Yet the country continues to grapple with deep-seated challenges in post-war reconstruction and securing a stable future for its people.
Afghan rural markets see recovery as security improves 5 years after US pullout
