Changes in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover, see moving images from war-ravaged nation

The normal life of an ordinary Afghan citizen has changed in the aftermath of the United States’ exit and Taliban takeover of the war-ravaged Afghanistan after nearly a 20year-long war. Barring the Panjshir Valley, the Taliban has gained control over almost all of Afghanistan and even announced an interim government for running the Islamic Emirate.

 

Though forces have pledged not to allow Afghanistan to become a base for terrorists who could threaten the West, they also issued several decrees banning protests, sloganeering, new rules for co-education and restrictions under Sharia law for women.  

Ever since entering Kabul, the Taliban have banned advertisements featuring women. Taliban men were seen painting adverts of women wearing wedding dresses using a roller and white paint outside a building in the national capital. The photograph was posted on Twitter by An Afghan journalist.

Music is now forbidden in Afghanistan. In the wake of the United States' withdrawal, Afghanistan suffered a concerted cultural shock as Taliban imposed a ban on public music. Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said, "Music is forbidden in Islam," Mujahid bluntly stated. "But we're hoping that we can persuade people not to do such things, instead of pressuring them."

The Taliban have said that it would not allow Afghans to leave the country. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has said in a press conference in Kabul that while foreign nationals could continue traveling to the airport, the huge crowds of Afghans that have gathered there in recent days should return home and would not face reprisals from the country's new rulers.

Afghan National Resistance Front leaders have declared a war against the Taliban and have been strongly resisting the group's bid to take control of the Panjshir Valley, which is the epicenter of what is being called the Second Resistance. Ahmad Massoud, Amrullah Saleh, Bismillah Khan Mohammadi are the top leaders of the Panjshir Resistance. The Taliban has claimed total control over Afghanistan, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last remaining holdout of resistance against their rule. However, the resistance leaders have rejected their claim.

After the Taliban takeover, Turkey has reinforced its border with Iran to stop a potential influx of fleeing Afghans. PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey will not become Europe's "refugee warehouse". Meanwhile, Pakistan said it would seal its border in “national interest” with neighbouring Afghanistan but so far Afghans have been allowed to cross over to Pakistan.

Since its takeover by the Taliban, Afghanistan has been facing a cash crunch, with global aids freezing and daily limits set on withdrawal from bank accounts. Most of the countries have refused to recognise the Taliban regime, which officially calls the country Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

 

Foreign assistance has been frozen, and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have halted loans. The United States also stopped USD 9.4 billion in reserves to the country's central bank. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also asked its 39 member nations to block Taliban assets.

The fundamentalist Islamist group, known for their tight imposition of Sharia law, has imposed several restrictions on women from playing sports, entering politics, from public work, joining protests and co-education etc. The spokesperson for the group said last week that ''a woman can’t be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can’t carry. It is not necessary for women to be in the cabinet – they should give birth.”

The Taliban have said that Afghan women could no longer play sports, including Cricket, since the profession “exposes” their bodies. Afghan women, including the country’s women’s cricket team, will be banned from playing sport under the new Taliban government, the spokesperson of the hardline Islamist group said.

Hundreds of Afghan women have been protesting against the new restrictions and decrees issued by the Taliban leaders banning them from public work, playing sports, imposing new dress codes and prohibiting them from joining protests across the country. It came after the Taliban mandated the segregation of genders in classrooms and said women students, teachers and employees must wear hijabs.