And still they outlasted the Russians (with a little help from the US supporting the Taliban). (Guest Blogger)

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, 9% of the population was killed, one third fled the country, and 11% were internally displaced. Between 53 and 67% of all villages were bombed, and 24-36% of the irrigation systems were destroyed. The agricultural community declined from 85% to 23% of the population, fertilizer use fell by 90%, and livestock declined by 70%. Those remaining in agriculture switched from productive crops to poppy to survive. James C. McMurray and A. Dan Tarlock, The Law of Later-Developing Riparian States: The Case of Afghanistan, 12 N.Y.U. Environmental Law Journal 711 (2005).

According to a recent conversation with an official working in Afghanistan, the US will not address the severe water supply problems because they think more water will only be used to grow more poppy.

International Water Lawyer