Seven years after the US invaded their country to topple the ruling Taliban amid promises of bring prosperity and freedom, Afghans are still lacking the very basics of life.
"We feel no change in our lives," Mohammad Usman, a 40-year-old shopkeeper from restive Kandahar province, told Reuters on Thursday, September 11.
The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to topple Taliban and its ally Al-Qaeda, which claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks.
"After the 9/11 attacks, when the US and allies overthrew the Taliban government, the US promised the Afghan nation stability, safety and jobs," recalls Haji Allah Dad, a 60-year-old trader.
"But they have done nothing for us."
Seven years on, Afghanistan is so destitute and undeveloped that most inhabitants have no central heating, electricity or running water.
According to the international policy think tank Senlis, more than 70 percent of Afghans are chronically malnourished, with less than a quarter having access to safe drinking water.
"Life did change in the first years after the invasion," said Azim, a money-changer on one of Kabul’s streets.
"Now security has become worse and people are escaping Afghanistan."
According to aid agencies, violence has surged in Afghanistan over the last three years with more than 2,500 people killed, including 1,000 civilians, in the first six months of this year alone.
Enemy
For many Afghans, the US-led forces only add insult to their injuries.
"They are not the enemy of the Taliban, they are the enemy of the Afghan people," charges Usman, the shopkeeper.
"The US army calls us Al-Qaeda and kills us but we don’t know what Al-Qaeda is."
Dad, the 60-year-old trader, is equally critical of the foreign troops.
"They drop bombs on the civilian population and have killed thousands of Afghans in the last seven years, while the Taliban get stronger day by day."
Last month, more than 90 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in air strikes by the US-led forces in Heart province.
Human Rights Watch said in a report on Monday, September 8, that the number of civilians killed in US and NATO air strikes have nearly tripled over the past year.
Azim, the money-changer, is sounding the alarm.
"If the insecurity continues, people will turn against the US like they did against the Taliban."
Many are now yearning for the peaceful old days under Taliban.
"In those times there were no security problems," said Ali Jan, a 30-year-old bearded man from Spin Boldak in Kandahar.
"Now US forces began killing Afghan civilians and destroying our country," he said, admitting paying Taliban money during this Ramadan.
"Taliban are Muslims and Afghans. They are fighting for the freedom of Afghanistan."