In a poignant illustration of the severe humanitarian and economic crisis gripping Afghanistan, a former soldier of the national army has publicly put his one-year-old daughter up for sale to save his family from acute starvation and pay off accumulating debts.
The former soldier, who served in the national military prior to the state collapse, shared his ordeal online, describing the heartbreak of reaching a point of total desperation. Having been unemployed for over five years with no source of income or access to state support, he stated that mounting debts and basic survival needs forced him to make the unthinkable decision.
“During the Republic era, I was an army soldier and proudly served my homeland,” he wrote. “Writing these sentences is harder for me than death itself, but due to extreme desperation and heavy debts, I am forced to sell my little angel to pay off my debts and save my family from hunger.”
His plight underscores the systemic economic marginalization and security risks faced by tens of thousands of former military personnel who remained in the country. Deprived of employment opportunities, targeted by de facto intelligence, and excluded from public services, many former security force members live in severe poverty or hid in fear of extrajudicial reprisals.
Humanitarian organizations continue to report rising instances of families selling young children, organs, or property across Afghan provinces to cope with severe food insecurity, widespread joblessness, and reduced international humanitarian assistance. Human rights monitors warn that without economic safety nets and targeted humanitarian assistance, vulnerable households will remain trapped in tragic conditions.