Kabul’s groundwater is vanishing, wells are falling silent, and millions face a future without clean water. In this episode of the Afghan Eye Podcast, host Sangar Paykhar speaks with environmental advocate Sayedmuhammad Sulimankhil to uncover how the Afghan capital arrived at the brink of ecological disaster—and what must urgently be done to reverse course.
Kabul’s Thirst: A Capital in Crisis
‘Every morning, I have to change my routine. No more daily showers, no more watering the plants,’ says Sayedmuhammad Sulimankhil, co-founder of the youth-led environmental NGO Samsoor Watan. A resident of Kabul, Sulimankhil speaks not only as an environmental advocate but as a victim of the unfolding water crisis.
Kabul, once a city of gardens and flowing rivers, is drying up. Years of unplanned urban sprawl, overpopulation, and groundwater exploitation have brought the Afghan capital to the brink of ecological collapse. According to Sulimankhil, over 90% of Kabul’s water consumption relies on underground aquifers, which are rapidly depleting. Without a functioning municipal water grid, most residents dig private wells. In a city of over seven million, this practice is unsustainable and, in the long term, catastrophic.
The Ground Beneath Is Disappearing
‘We have no running water supply system in most of the city. Every family digs its own well. Imagine the impact on groundwater levels,’ he says. Entire neighbourhoods now rely on water tankers. Others have already begun to relocate due to dry wells. Districts such as Khair Khana have become ground zero for internal displacement driven not by war, but by water scarcity.
This is no seasonal anomaly. The decline in precipitation, especially snowfall, has severely reduced the natural replenishment of Kabul’s aquifers. Where once seasonal rains and winter snowmelt recharged wells, today there is neither enough snow nor rain to sustain the city. ‘There was a time when our rivers flowed. Now they are dry.’
Climate Change Hits Home
For Sulimankhil, this crisis is deeply personal. Raised in a farming family, he saw reliable rivers in his village vanish, leaving once-fertile land cracked and barren. That childhood experience sparked a lifelong commitment to environmental advocacy. ‘Climate change in Afghanistan is not an abstract concern. It means hunger, migration, and lost futures.’
His organisation, Samsoor Watan, founded officially in 2014, has grown into a rare voice for youth-led climate awareness in a country largely excluded from international climate discourse. From primary school classrooms to university campuses, they organise workshops, capacity-building sessions, and advocacy events on topics ranging from water conservation to climate justice.
Kabul’s Overpopulation and Political Paralysis
But activism alone cannot fix structural problems. The city’s water supply infrastructure remains woefully inadequate. Only around 10% of Kabul is connected to a piped water grid. The rest depends on boreholes and pumps, intensifying pressure on underground reserves.
Meanwhile, political and financial constraints have stalled proposed solutions such as the long-discussed Shatoot Dam project and plans to divert water from the Panjshir River. Sulimankhil is sceptical that even these will suffice: ‘Even if Panjshir’s water comes to Kabul, only a few districts will benefit. Without a proper distribution network, it is a partial solution at best.’
International funding, which could help develop sustainable water systems, remains frozen due to the non-recognition of the current authorities. ‘We, the people, are not the government. We are human beings suffering from climate change. Why are we being punished for politics?’ he asks.
The Injustice of Climate Injustice
Despite contributing virtually nothing to global greenhouse gas emissions, Afghanistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Yet it is largely excluded from global climate financing mechanisms due to diplomatic isolation.
‘There is a misconception,’ says Sulimankhil. ‘Some think funding local NGOs like ours might benefit the authorities. But we are independent civil society organisations. Without support, we cannot build climate resilience in our communities.’
Samsoor Watan continues to work with meagre resources, raising awareness among youth and pressing for practical action. They advocate for rainwater harvesting, restrictions on illegal well-digging, and investments in water recycling. But, Sulimankhil insists, these community-level solutions require a functioning state and international solidarity.
What Can Be Done?
As Kabul teeters on the edge of a climate-induced humanitarian crisis, Sulimankhil offers several urgent recommendations:
- Immediate regulation of groundwater extraction, particularly for industrial and commercial usage.
- Expansion of piped water infrastructure, prioritising the most water-stressed districts.
- Revival of traditional water systems, including karez channels and small-scale dams.
- International re-engagement to provide technical and financial support, bypassing political bottlenecks.
- Empowering youth through environmental education and training to build future resilience.
A Future Worth Protecting
‘We do not protest for the sake of slogans,’ he says. ‘We educate children, train youth, and try to protect our future. That is all we can do for now. But we need the world to listen.’
In a country that has endured war, displacement, and political upheaval, water scarcity might yet prove the most destabilising force. And as Kabul dries up, it is voices like Sulimankhil’s that remind us: the crisis is already here. What happens next depends not only on Kabul’s citizens, but on whether the world pays attention.