Keywords: Afghanistan, Central Asia, Terrorism, Taliban, Women's Rights

This paper examines the current affairs in Afghanistan based on the results of a national survey from November 2024 commissioned by D3: Designs, Data, Decisions . The larger context of our research is continued Taliban rule since 2021, and it focuses on the research environment as a whole and then the economic, political, and security conditions for Afghans. We will present findings about the Afghan government and how perceptions vary across region and ethnic group. Attitudes toward the incoming Trump administration and its implications for Afghanistan are somewhat mixed across ethnic group but generally positive. We will discuss what this may mean for future Afghan relations, especially due to the US’ important role in the Afghan political sphere. With increasingly restrictive policies governing women, the paper will also touch on continued challenges regarding women’s livelihood and freedoms.
This paper explores Afghanistan’s current security situation. While stability under Taliban rule has led to a sense of optimism among some Afghans, data shows this optimism congregated around specific areas and ethnic groups. Topline results may lead to misinterpretation of this sentiment.
Public perception of the Afghan economy continues to be poor both at the national and household levels. The majority of Afghans report being able to afford little or none of the food or fuel they require, and that jobs and economic opportunities stagnate. The paper will demonstrate an overview of current perceptions of the economy and then tie it into the broader political context as well, especially relating to foreign aid from China and United.
Methodologically, the paper is based on data collected in November 2024 and is nationally representative of Afghanistan. Due to security issues, the survey mode switched to CATI in 2021, but ongoing safety and privacy concerns pose problems throughout fieldwork and require occasional methodological adjustments. In addition, this paper seeks to generally complement the corresponding paper and presentation of a D3-commissioned survey in Pakistan despite differences in methodology and domestic conditions between the two.