Ezanullah, one of thousands of young Taliban fighters from the countryside who rode into Afghanistan’s capital over the weekend, had never seen anything like it. The encounter highlights how much Kabul and other Afghan cities have changed in the 20 years since the Taliban, who mainly hail from rugged rural areas, last ruled the country. Younger Afghans have no memory of Taliban rule but fear its return will mean the loss of freedoms. Under Taliban rule, television and music were forbidden. Videos circulating online appear to show bearded Taliban fighters laughing and horsing around on amusement park rides and in an indoor gym.

Source: thestar August 17, 2021 14:48 UTC