Aziz Mohammad's Kabul restaurant once buzzed with office workers grabbing meals between meetings. Now, deserted streets and shuttered businesses paint a stark picture of life after the Taliban's return. 💼🚪 \"Security is everyone's biggest fear,\" says Aziz, whose daily customers have plummeted as locals flee or stay home.
Before August 2021, his eatery thrived on breakfast rushes and lunch crowds from nearby government buildings. Today, empty tables outnumber patrons. 📉 \"If safety improves, maybe people will return,\" he adds, clinging to hope amid uncertainty.
The story mirrors broader challenges across Afghanistan: dwindling incomes, mass emigration, and a fragile economy. Experts warn small businesses like Aziz's could take years to recover—if stability ever arrives. 🌏⚖️
