As Afghanistan’s Economy Nosedives, Its Authoritarian Overlords Thrive on Foreign Aid, Illicit Earnings
Afghanistan is broke only on paper. The flow of revenue into the Taliban’s coffers tells a story of extortion, bribery, smuggling, and seizures.
Afghanistan's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, shakes hands with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia prior to talks at Moscow on October 7, 2025. Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP
