Afghanistan has undergone a dramatic transformation in half a year of taliban rule.
The country feels safer, less violent than it has been in decades, but the other time fueled by aid economy heading towards collapse. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled or were evacuated, including one grand number of educated elites. Either they fear for their economy future or lack of freedom under a group than during his previous rule in the late 1990s banned girls from going to school and women from work .
Tuesday Marks six months from the Afghan capital of Kabul was ceded to the Taliban with the sudden and secret Departure of the president of the country supported by the United States. The takeover of Kabul had been preceded by the Taliban by several months military campaign take control of provincial regions, many of who fell with barely one fight.
Today the view of armed Taliban fighters roam the street still shocks and frightens the inhabitants. Corn women returned to the streets, and many young men Have put on western clothes again after initially throwing them away for the traditional shalwar kameez, the Taliban’s favorite long shirt and baggy pants.
contrary to in 1990s, the Taliban allow some women at work. The women are back in their jobs in the health and education ministries as well as at the airport international from Kabul Hamid Karzai, often next at men. Corn women still waiting to come back to work in other ministries. Thousands of jobs have been lost in the downward economic spiral, and women has been hit the hardest.
The Taliban have cracked down on women and harassed journalists, including briefly detaining two foreign journalists working with United Nations refugee agency last the week.
Monday, the detention of some young men sale of heart-shaped flowers in acknowledgement of Valentine’s Day was a stark reminder that the new the all-male, religion-oriented administration has zero tolerance for Western ideas of romance.
Girls in grades 1 to 6 go to school, but those in the higher notes are still blocked out in most parts of the country. The Taliban promised that all girls would be in school after afghan new year at the end of March. Universities are gradually reopening and private universities and schools have never closed.
Poverty is getting worse. Even those who have money have a hard time to access it. In banks, queues are long as residents wait for hourssometimes even days, to remove a limit of $200 per week.
Over $9 billion in abroad from Afghanistan assets were frozen after the Taliban took power. Last week, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that promised $3.5 billion – out of $7 billion of Afghanistan assets frozen in the United States – would be given to families of American victims of September 11. The remaining $3.5 billion would be released for Afghan aid.
Afghans from all political walks of life denounced the order, accusing the United States of socket money which belongs to the Afghans.
The Taliban campaigned for international acknowledgement of their all-man, all-Taliban government, but on urges them to create an inclusive administration and guarantee rights of women and religious minorities.
Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for International Crisis Group’s Asia program, warned against using sanctions, saying it would backfire.
“Keep up the economic pressure on the taliban will not get rid of of their regime, but a collapse economy could lead at more people flee the country, triggering a new migration crisis,” he said. He also noted that this round of taliban rule “probably ranks as the most peaceful six-months that Afghanistan experienced in four decades.
The Taliban reopened the country’s passport officewhich is clogged with thousands of people one day. The Taliban promised the Afghans that they could travel, but only with appropriate documents. Those trying to leave seem largely motivated by fear of a failure economy or desire for greater freedom in a more liberal society.
Several officials linked to the former supported by the United States government came back. One of returnees, former Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal, said he encountered no resentment from the Taliban.
He said he hopes the Taliban “will find the courage” to open up their ranks, guarantee minorities have their say in the government and go further to guarantee rights of all Afghans.
