Investigating groundwater recharge using hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in Kabul city, a semi-arid region

•Stable isotope analysis has been carried out on surface and groundwater across Kabul city.•Significant groundwater depletion is observed in the Central Kabul sub-basin and western parts of the city.•Isotopic data variability is influenced by local recharge and groundwater-surface water mixing.•River water contribution to groundwater recharge declined from 60% in 2007 to less than 50% in 2020.