Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is in the UAE. This was confirmed by UAE in a brief statement. It said that the country is hosting Ghani on "humanitarian grounds". Ghani fled Afghanistan amid a Taliban takeover.

"The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds," said UAE in a brief statement.

On Sunday (August 15), as Taliban closed in on Kabul, Ghani fled Afghanistan. The insurgent shortly walked into the Afghan capital without any resistance from Afghan National Army.

In a Facebook post, Ghani said the "Taliban have won" and that he fled to avoid a "flood of bloodshed".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-3-killed-dozens-injured-after-militants-open-fire-on-anti-taliban-protesters-406627">Watch: 3 killed, dozens injured after militants open fire on anti-Taliban protesters</a>

Till today, his whereabouts were unknown. There were speculations that he had fled to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Oman.

This would not be the first time that the oil-rich Gulf country opens its arms to former leaders and their relatives, now persona non grata in their country.

In 2017, the emirate of Dubai hosted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.

Spain's king Juan Carlos went into self-exile in the UAE in August last year as questions mounted over the origins of his fortune, and the UAE was Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's home during her eight years in exile before she was assassinated in her home country in 2007.

The UAE is one of three nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which recognised the previous Taliban regime, which ruled from 1996 to 2001.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is in the UAE. This was confirmed by UAE in a brief statement. It said that the country is hosting Ghani on "humanitarian grounds".

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is in the UAE. This was confirmed by UAE in a brief statement. It said that the country is hosting Ghani on "humanitarian grounds". Ghani fled Afghanistan amid a Taliban takeover. "The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds," said UAE in a brief statement. On Sunday (August 15), as Taliban closed in on Kabul, Ghani fled Afghanistan. The insurgent shortly walked into the Afghan capital without any resistance from Afghan National Army. In a Facebook post, Ghani said the "Taliban have won" and that he fled to avoid a "flood of bloodshed". Also Read | Watch: 3 killed, dozens injured after militants open fire on anti-Taliban protesters Till today, his whereabouts were unknown. There were speculations that he had fled to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Oman. This would not be the first time that the oil-rich Gulf country opens its arms to former leaders and their relatives, now persona non grata in their country. In 2017, the emirate of Dubai hosted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. Spain's king Juan Carlos went into self-exile in the UAE in August last year as questions mounted over the origins of his fortune, and the UAE was Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's home during her eight years in exile before she was assassinated in her home country in 2007. The UAE is one of three nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which recognised the previous Taliban regime, which ruled from 1996 to 2001. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan ex-president Ashraf Ghani is in UAE

Police in Belarus on Wednesday searched and detained employees of an independent news agency. This is being seen as an escalation in crackdown on the media.

The ex-Soviet country is in a political turmoil since last August. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed victory but opponents say that the elections were rigged

In the wake of the protests, Belarus has sought to eradicate any remaining pockets of dissent, cracking down on the opposition, rights groups and media not under state control.&nbsp;

Police on Wednesday searched home of Irina Levshina, editor-in-chief of BelaPan news agency

before taking her to the outlet's newsroom for a search there, reported website Naviny.by, which is owned by BelaPan.

BelaPan deputy editor Alexander Zaitsev said his home was also searched and his phone, computer and other devices were confiscated.

He said it was part of an investigation into public order offences.

Later on Wednesday, Naviny.by said that BelaPan's accountant and its former director had been taken to a detention centre in the capital Minsk.

Naviny.by also reported that BelaPan's website was down.&nbsp;

AFP journalists in Moscow and Paris were unable to access it as of 1230 GMT.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists called for the "immediate" release of all BelaPan employees.&nbsp; 
"You can close independent media, detain their employees and scare people. But nobody can hold back thoughts and ideas," the group said in a statement.&nbsp;

BelaPan is not openly pro-opposition but it carries critical material not seen in most other Belarusian media, and its offices have been raided in the past.

In January, the outlet's headquarters were searched and a former employee was arrested and later charged with treason.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Police in Belarus on Wednesday searched and detained employees of an independent news agency. This is being seen as an escalation in crackdown on the media. The ex-Soviet country is in a political turmoil since last August.

Police in Belarus on Wednesday searched and detained employees of an independent news agency. This is being seen as an escalation in crackdown on the media. The ex-Soviet country is in a political turmoil since last August. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed victory but opponents say that the elections were rigged In the wake of the protests, Belarus has sought to eradicate any remaining pockets of dissent, cracking down on the opposition, rights groups and media not under state control. Police on Wednesday searched home of Irina Levshina, editor-in-chief of BelaPan news agency before taking her to the outlet's newsroom for a search there, reported website Naviny.by, which is owned by BelaPan. BelaPan deputy editor Alexander Zaitsev said his home was also searched and his phone, computer and other devices were confiscated. He said it was part of an investigation into public order offences. Later on Wednesday, Naviny.by said that BelaPan's accountant and its former director had been taken to a detention centre in the capital Minsk. Naviny.by also reported that BelaPan's website was down. AFP journalists in Moscow and Paris were unable to access it as of 1230 GMT. The Belarusian Association of Journalists called for the "immediate" release of all BelaPan employees. "You can close independent media, detain their employees and scare people. But nobody can hold back thoughts and ideas," the group said in a statement. BelaPan is not openly pro-opposition but it carries critical material not seen in most other Belarusian media, and its offices have been raided in the past. In January, the outlet's headquarters were searched and a former employee was arrested and later charged with treason. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus: News agency targetted by police amid crackdown

Taliban, firmly in power now in Afghanistan, held a press conference on Tuesday that was regarded by many news outlets as 'historic'. The insurgent group, dreaded because of their brutal rule in late 90s, fielded questions from journalists on issues like women's rights, new Afghan government and more.

As much as it was surprising for many to see an insurgent group hold a press conference, it was special for another reason.

It was the first time that Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, faced the cameras. Mujahid was in touch with journalists around the world for more than a decade. But nobody had seen his face. It was also rumoured that Zabiullah Mujahid were several people rather than just one.

Reactions were forthcoming from journalists around the world about Mujahid facing the cameras on Tuesday.

"The photo of Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was more responsive and active than the entire team of Ghani’s spokespeople — for over a decade. I have spoken with him &amp; texted him a lot. But this is the first time I am seeing his face," tweeted Sharif Hasan, a New York Times Reporter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The photo of Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was more responsive and active than the entire team of Ghani’s spokespeople — for over a decade. I have spoken with him &amp; texted him a lot. But this is the first time I am seeing his face. <a href="https://t.co/6fzRio6QIU">pic.twitter.com/6fzRio6QIU</a>
— Sharif Hassan (@MSharif1990) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSharif1990/status/1427641679188832261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Veteran BBC journalist John Simpson even called Zabiullah a 'relatively moderate, pleasant man' in his tweet.

"I’ve know the Taliban spokesman at today’s press conference in Kabul for many years. Zabihullah Mujahid is a relatively moderate, pleasant man. &nbsp;But he’s seeking to calm the world’s fears, &amp; he only speaks for one part of the Taliban movement," he tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’ve know the Taliban spokesman at today’s press conference in Kabul for many years. Zabihullah Mujahid is a relatively moderate, pleasant man. But he’s seeking to calm the world’s fears, &amp; he only speaks for one part of the Taliban movement.
— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnSimpsonNews/status/1427667044879773703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Taliban, firmly in power now in Afghanistan, held a press conference on Tuesday that was regarded by many news outlets as 'historic'. The insurgent group, dreaded because of their brutal rule in late 90s, fielded questions from journalists on issues like women's rights, new Afghan government and more.

Taliban, firmly in power now in Afghanistan, held a press conference on Tuesday that was regarded by many news outlets as 'historic'. The insurgent group, dreaded because of their brutal rule in late 90s, fielded questions from journalists on issues like women's rights, new Afghan government and more. As much as it was surprising for many to see an insurgent group hold a press conference, it was special for another reason. It was the first time that Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, faced the cameras. Mujahid was in touch with journalists around the world for more than a decade. But nobody had seen his face. It was also rumoured that Zabiullah Mujahid were several people rather than just one. Reactions were forthcoming from journalists around the world about Mujahid facing the cameras on Tuesday. "The photo of Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was more responsive and active than the entire team of Ghani’s spokespeople — for over a decade. I have spoken with him & texted him a lot. But this is the first time I am seeing his face," tweeted Sharif Hasan, a New York Times Reporter. The photo of Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was more responsive and active than the entire team of Ghani’s spokespeople — for over a decade. I have spoken with him & texted him a lot. But this is the first time I am seeing his face. pic.twitter.com/6fzRio6QIU — Sharif Hassan (@MSharif1990) August 17, 2021 × Veteran BBC journalist John Simpson even called Zabiullah a 'relatively moderate, pleasant man' in his tweet. "I’ve know the Taliban spokesman at today’s press conference in Kabul for many years. Zabihullah Mujahid is a relatively moderate, pleasant man. But he’s seeking to calm the world’s fears, & he only speaks for one part of the Taliban movement," he tweeted. I’ve know the Taliban spokesman at today’s press conference in Kabul for many years. Zabihullah Mujahid is a relatively moderate, pleasant man. But he’s seeking to calm the world’s fears, & he only speaks for one part of the Taliban movement. — John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) August 17, 2021 ×

Out of shadows: Mysterious Taliban spokesman finally faces cameras

In the first indication of Talibani concessions with respect to women's rights, the group said on Wednesday that it was fine with women receiving primary and higher education which includes attending university.

Women "can get education from primary to higher education -- that means university. We have announced this policy at international conferences, the Moscow conference and here at the Doha conference (on Afghanistan)," said Suhail Shaheen, Taliban spokesperson for its political office in Doha

Under the militants' hardline 1996-2001 rule, girls' schools were closed, women were prevented from travelling and working, and women were forced to wear an all-covering burqa in public.

Shaheen also indicated that burqa will not be compulsory for women but a hijab would be.

"The burqa is not the only hijab (headscarf) that (can) be observed, there is different types of hijab not limited to burqa," Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the group's political office in Doha, told Britain's Sky News.

The burqa is a one-piece overgarment that covers the entire head and body, with a mesh panel to see through.

Shaheen did not specify other types of hijab that would be deemed acceptable by the Taliban.&nbsp;

The previous Taliban government imposed the strictest interpretations of sharia, establishing religious police for the suppression of "vice".

Taliban courts handed out extreme punishments including chopping off the hands of thieves and stoning to death women accused of adultery.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the first indication of Talibani concessions with respect to women's rights, the group said on Wednesday that it was fine with women receiving primary and higher education which includes attending university.

In the first indication of Talibani concessions with respect to women's rights, the group said on Wednesday that it was fine with women receiving primary and higher education which includes attending university. Women "can get education from primary to higher education -- that means university. We have announced this policy at international conferences, the Moscow conference and here at the Doha conference (on Afghanistan)," said Suhail Shaheen, Taliban spokesperson for its political office in Doha Under the militants' hardline 1996-2001 rule, girls' schools were closed, women were prevented from travelling and working, and women were forced to wear an all-covering burqa in public. Shaheen also indicated that burqa will not be compulsory for women but a hijab would be. "The burqa is not the only hijab (headscarf) that (can) be observed, there is different types of hijab not limited to burqa," Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the group's political office in Doha, told Britain's Sky News. The burqa is a one-piece overgarment that covers the entire head and body, with a mesh panel to see through. Shaheen did not specify other types of hijab that would be deemed acceptable by the Taliban. The previous Taliban government imposed the strictest interpretations of sharia, establishing religious police for the suppression of "vice". Taliban courts handed out extreme punishments including chopping off the hands of thieves and stoning to death women accused of adultery. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban fine with women attending universities

Taliban held their first press conference in Kabul after consolidating their hold on Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid spoke on many issues including media, women's rights and more.

Mujahid said that Taliban promised to respect the role of the press. He said that private media can continue to be 'free and independent'. However the freedom came at a few 'suggestions'

"We have three suggestions: No broadcast should contradict Islamic values, they should be impartial, no one should broadcast anything that goes against our national interests," he said.

Asked what the difference between the movement that was ousted 20 years ago and the Taliban of today, he said: "If the question is based on ideology, and beliefs, there is no difference... but if we calculate it based on experience, maturity, and insight, no doubt there are many differences."

"The steps today will be positively different from the past steps," he added.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-say-they-seek-no-revenge-in-press-conference-will-respect-womens-rights-406379">Taliban say they seek no ‘revenge’ in press conference, will respect women’s rights</a>

Meanwhile the Taliban's co-founder returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday following the group's stunning takeover of the country

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's arrival from Qatar -- where he has spent months leading talks with the United States and then Afghan peace negotiators -- crowns a stunning comeback for the Taliban after being ousted 20 years ago

Triumphant return

Baradar, now deputy leader of the Taliban, chose to touch down in Afghanistan's second biggest city Kandahar -- the Taliban's spiritual birthplace and capital during their first time in power.

He landed hours after evacuation flights from Kabul's airport resumed Tuesday.

On Monday, chaos erupted when huge crowds mobbed the tarmac, with some people so desperate they clung to the fuselage of a US military plane as it rolled down the runway for take-off. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban held their first press conference in Kabul after consolidating their hold on Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid spoke on many issues including media, women's rights and more.

Taliban held their first press conference in Kabul after consolidating their hold on Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid spoke on many issues including media, women's rights and more. Mujahid said that Taliban promised to respect the role of the press. He said that private media can continue to be 'free and independent'. However the freedom came at a few 'suggestions' "We have three suggestions: No broadcast should contradict Islamic values, they should be impartial, no one should broadcast anything that goes against our national interests," he said. Asked what the difference between the movement that was ousted 20 years ago and the Taliban of today, he said: "If the question is based on ideology, and beliefs, there is no difference... but if we calculate it based on experience, maturity, and insight, no doubt there are many differences." "The steps today will be positively different from the past steps," he added. Also Read: Taliban say they seek no ‘revenge’ in press conference, will respect women’s rights Meanwhile the Taliban's co-founder returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday following the group's stunning takeover of the country Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's arrival from Qatar -- where he has spent months leading talks with the United States and then Afghan peace negotiators -- crowns a stunning comeback for the Taliban after being ousted 20 years ago Triumphant return Baradar, now deputy leader of the Taliban, chose to touch down in Afghanistan's second biggest city Kandahar -- the Taliban's spiritual birthplace and capital during their first time in power. He landed hours after evacuation flights from Kabul's airport resumed Tuesday. On Monday, chaos erupted when huge crowds mobbed the tarmac, with some people so desperate they clung to the fuselage of a US military plane as it rolled down the runway for take-off. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban want free media but 'suggestions' apply

Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted an increasingly grim picture of the prospect of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and warned of the rapid collapse of the Afghan military, even as President Joe Biden and his advisers said publicly that was unlikely to happen as quickly, according to current and former U.S. government officials.

By July, many intelligence reports grew more pessimistic, questioning whether any Afghan security forces would muster serious resistance and whether the government could hold on in Kabul, the capital. Biden said on July 8 that the Afghan government was unlikely to fall and that there would be no chaotic evacuations of Americans similar to the end of the Vietnam War.

The drumbeat of warnings over the summer raise questions about why Biden administration officials, and military planners in Afghanistan, seemed ill-prepared to deal with the Taliban’s final push into Kabul, including a failure to ensure security at the main airport and rushing thousands more troops back to the country to protect the United States’ final exit.

One report in July — as dozens of Afghan districts were falling and Taliban fighters were laying siege to several major cities — laid out the growing risks to Kabul, noting that the Afghan government was unprepared for a Taliban assault, according to a person familiar with the intelligence.

Intelligence agencies predicted that should the Taliban seize cities, a cascading collapse could happen rapidly and the Afghan security forces were at high risk of falling apart. It is unclear whether other reports during this period presented a more optimistic picture about the ability of the Afghan military and the government in Kabul to withstand the Taliban.

A historical analysis provided to Congress concluded that the insurgents had learned lessons from their takeover of the country in the 1990s. This time, the report said, the Taliban would first secure border crossings, commandeer provincial capitals and seize swaths of the country’s north before moving in on Kabul, a prediction that proved accurate.

But key American decisions were made long before July, when the consensus among intelligence agencies was that the Afghan government could hang on for as long as two years, which would have left ample time for an orderly exit. On April 27, when the State Department ordered the departure of nonessential personnel from the embassy in Kabul, the overall intelligence assessment was still that a Taliban takeover was at least 18 months away, according to administration officials.

One senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the classified intelligence reports, said that even by July, as the situation grew more volatile, intelligence agencies never offered a clear prediction of an imminent Taliban takeover. The official said their assessments were also not given a “high confidence” judgment, the agencies’ highest level of certainty.

As late as a week before Kabul’s fall, the overall intelligence analysis was that a Taliban takeover was not yet inevitable, the official said.

Spokespeople for the CIA and the director of national intelligence declined to discuss the assessments given to the White House. But intelligence officials acknowledged that their agencies’ analysis had been sober and that the assessments had changed in recent weeks and months.

During his speech on Monday, Biden said that his administration “planned for every contingency” in Afghanistan but that the situation “did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.”

Facing clear evidence of the collapse of Afghan forces, U.S. officials have begun to cast blame internally, including statements from the White House that have suggested an intelligence failure. Such finger-pointing often occurs after major national security breakdowns, but it will take weeks or months for a more complete picture to emerge of the decision-making in the Biden administration that led to the chaos in Kabul in recent days.

Intelligence agencies have long predicted an ultimate Taliban victory, even before President Donald Trump and Biden decided to withdraw forces. Those estimates provided a range of timelines. While they raised questions about the will of the Afghan security forces to fight without Americans by their side, they did not predict a collapse within weeks.

But in recent months, assessments became ever more pessimistic as the Taliban made larger gains, according to current and former officials. The reports this summer questioned in stark terms the will of Afghan security forces to fight and the ability of the Kabul government to hold power. With each report of mass desertions, a former official said, the Afghan government looked less stable.

Another CIA report in July noted that the security forces and central government had lost control of the roads leading into Kabul and assessed that the viability of the central government was in serious jeopardy. Other reports by the State Department’s intelligence and research division also noted the failure of Afghan forces to fight the Taliban and suggested the deteriorating security conditions could lead to the collapse of the government, according to government officials.

“The business of intelligence is not to say you know on Aug. 15 the Afghan government’s going to fall,” said Timothy S. Bergreen, a former staff director for the House Intelligence Committee. “But what everybody knew is that without the stiffening of the international forces and specifically our forces, the Afghans were incapable of defending or governing themselves.”

Afghanistan received little attention in the annual threat assessment released in April by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; but the brief discussion was dire, noting the Taliban was confident it could achieve a military victory.

“The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support,” the report said.

But current and former officials said that while it was true that the CIA predicted a collapse of the Afghan government, it was often hard to get agency analysts to clearly predict how quickly that would occur, especially as Trump and then Biden made decisions on how fast to draw down troops.

Two former senior Trump administration officials who reviewed some of the CIA’s assessments of Afghanistan said the intelligence agencies did deliver warnings about the strength of the Afghan government and security forces. But the agency resisted giving an exact time frame and the assessments could often be interpreted in a variety of ways, including concluding that Afghanistan could fall quickly or possibly over time.

Sharp disagreements have also persisted in the intelligence community. The CIA for years has been pessimistic about the training of the Afghan security forces. But the Defense Intelligence Agency and other intelligence shops within the Pentagon delivered more optimistic assessments about the Afghans’ preparedness, according to current and former officials.

Military and intelligence assessments predicting that the government in Kabul could hold on at least a year before a Taliban takeover were built on a premise that proved to be flawed: that the Afghan army would put up a fight.

“Most of the U.S. assessments inside and outside the U.S. government had focused on how well the Afghan security forces would fare in a fight with the Taliban. In reality, they never really fought” during the Taliban blitz across the country, said Seth G. Jones, an Afghanistan expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Two decades ago, this dynamic played out in reverse. When U.S.-backed Afghan militias began capturing territory from the Taliban in late 2001, Taliban fighters folded relatively quickly, and both Kabul and Kandahar fell before the end of that year.

Some Taliban surrendered, some switched sides, and far larger numbers simply melted into the population to begin planning what would become a 20-year insurgency.

Intelligence officials have long observed that Afghans make cold calculations about who is likely to prevail in a conflict and back the winning side, a tactic that allows for battlefield gains to accumulate quickly until a tipping point turns the fight into a rout, according to current and former analysts.

At the core of the American loss in Afghanistan was the inability to build a security force that could stand on its own, but that error was compounded by Washington’s failure to listen to those raising questions about the Afghan military.

Part of the problem, according to former officials, is that the can-do attitude of the military frequently got in the way of candid, accurate assessments of how the Afghan security forces were doing. Though no one was blind to desertions or battlefield losses, American commanders given the task of training the Afghan military were reluctant to admit their efforts were failing.

Even those in the military skeptical of the skills of the Afghan security forces believed they would continue to fight for a time after the Americans left.

For months, intelligence officials have been making comparisons between the Afghan national security forces and the South Vietnamese army at the end of the Vietnam War. It took two years for South Vietnam’s military, known by the American acronym ARVN, to collapse after the United States withdrew troops and financial support. Optimists believed the Afghan military — with American funding — could last nearly as long. Pessimists thought it would be far shorter.

“For the last two or three years I have been ruefully remarking that ANSF is Afghan for ARVN,” said Bergreen, who worked on intelligence matters on Capitol Hill from 2003 to 2021. “There was an acknowledgment that the Afghan forces were not up to the long-term fight. But I don’t think anyone expected them to melt away quite that fast.”

Recent Taliban diplomatic maneuvers with other countries in the region, most notably China, lent an air of inevitability to a Taliban takeover that further demoralized Afghan government troops, Jones said.

In the end, analysts said, the Taliban won with the strategy that has so often proved successful during Afghanistan’s many decades of war — they outlasted their opponent.

“​​I am not that surprised it was as fast and sweeping as it was,” said Lisa Maddox, a former CIA analyst. “The Taliban certainly has shown their ability to persevere, hunker down and come back even after they have been beaten back. And you have a population that is so tired and weary of conflict that they are going to flip and support the winning side so they can survive.”

Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted an increasingly grim picture of the prospect of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and warned of the rapid collapse of the Afghan military, even as President Joe Biden and his advisers said publicly that was unlikely to happen as quickly, according to current and former U.

Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted an increasingly grim picture of the prospect of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and warned of the rapid collapse of the Afghan military, even as President Joe Biden and his advisers said publicly that was unlikely to happen as quickly, according to current and former U.S. government officials. By July, many intelligence reports grew more pessimistic, questioning whether any Afghan security forces would muster serious resistance and whether the government could hold on in Kabul, the capital. Biden said on July 8 that the Afghan government was unlikely to fall and that there would be no chaotic evacuations of Americans similar to the end of the Vietnam War. The drumbeat of warnings over the summer raise questions about why Biden administration officials, and military planners in Afghanistan, seemed ill-prepared to deal with the Taliban’s final push into Kabul, including a failure to ensure security at the main airport and rushing thousands more troops back to the country to protect the United States’ final exit. One report in July — as dozens of Afghan districts were falling and Taliban fighters were laying siege to several major cities — laid out the growing risks to Kabul, noting that the Afghan government was unprepared for a Taliban assault, according to a person familiar with the intelligence. Intelligence agencies predicted that should the Taliban seize cities, a cascading collapse could happen rapidly and the Afghan security forces were at high risk of falling apart. It is unclear whether other reports during this period presented a more optimistic picture about the ability of the Afghan military and the government in Kabul to withstand the Taliban. A historical analysis provided to Congress concluded that the insurgents had learned lessons from their takeover of the country in the 1990s. This time, the report said, the Taliban would first secure border crossings, commandeer provincial capitals and seize swaths of the country’s north before moving in on Kabul, a prediction that proved accurate. But key American decisions were made long before July, when the consensus among intelligence agencies was that the Afghan government could hang on for as long as two years, which would have left ample time for an orderly exit. On April 27, when the State Department ordered the departure of nonessential personnel from the embassy in Kabul, the overall intelligence assessment was still that a Taliban takeover was at least 18 months away, according to administration officials. One senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the classified intelligence reports, said that even by July, as the situation grew more volatile, intelligence agencies never offered a clear prediction of an imminent Taliban takeover. The official said their assessments were also not given a “high confidence” judgment, the agencies’ highest level of certainty. As late as a week before Kabul’s fall, the overall intelligence analysis was that a Taliban takeover was not yet inevitable, the official said. Spokespeople for the CIA and the director of national intelligence declined to discuss the assessments given to the White House. But intelligence officials acknowledged that their agencies’ analysis had been sober and that the assessments had changed in recent weeks and months. During his speech on Monday, Biden said that his administration “planned for every contingency” in Afghanistan but that the situation “did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.” Facing clear evidence of the collapse of Afghan forces, U.S. officials have begun to cast blame internally, including statements from the White House that have suggested an intelligence failure. Such finger-pointing often occurs after major national security breakdowns, but it will take weeks or months for a more complete picture to emerge of the decision-making in the Biden administration that led to the chaos in Kabul in recent days. Intelligence agencies have long predicted an ultimate Taliban victory, even before President Donald Trump and Biden decided to withdraw forces. Those estimates provided a range of timelines. While they raised questions about the will of the Afghan security forces to fight without Americans by their side, they did not predict a collapse within weeks. But in recent months, assessments became ever more pessimistic as the Taliban made larger gains, according to current and former officials. The reports this summer questioned in stark terms the will of Afghan security forces to fight and the ability of the Kabul government to hold power. With each report of mass desertions, a former official said, the Afghan government looked less stable. Another CIA report in July noted that the security forces and central government had lost control of the roads leading into Kabul and assessed that the viability of the central government was in serious jeopardy. Other reports by the State Department’s intelligence and research division also noted the failure of Afghan forces to fight the Taliban and suggested the deteriorating security conditions could lead to the collapse of the government, according to government officials. “The business of intelligence is not to say you know on Aug. 15 the Afghan government’s going to fall,” said Timothy S. Bergreen, a former staff director for the House Intelligence Committee. “But what everybody knew is that without the stiffening of the international forces and specifically our forces, the Afghans were incapable of defending or governing themselves.” Afghanistan received little attention in the annual threat assessment released in April by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; but the brief discussion was dire, noting the Taliban was confident it could achieve a military victory. “The Taliban is likely to make gains on the battlefield, and the Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support,” the report said. But current and former officials said that while it was true that the CIA predicted a collapse of the Afghan government, it was often hard to get agency analysts to clearly predict how quickly that would occur, especially as Trump and then Biden made decisions on how fast to draw down troops. Two former senior Trump administration officials who reviewed some of the CIA’s assessments of Afghanistan said the intelligence agencies did deliver warnings about the strength of the Afghan government and security forces. But the agency resisted giving an exact time frame and the assessments could often be interpreted in a variety of ways, including concluding that Afghanistan could fall quickly or possibly over time. Sharp disagreements have also persisted in the intelligence community. The CIA for years has been pessimistic about the training of the Afghan security forces. But the Defense Intelligence Agency and other intelligence shops within the Pentagon delivered more optimistic assessments about the Afghans’ preparedness, according to current and former officials. Military and intelligence assessments predicting that the government in Kabul could hold on at least a year before a Taliban takeover were built on a premise that proved to be flawed: that the Afghan army would put up a fight. “Most of the U.S. assessments inside and outside the U.S. government had focused on how well the Afghan security forces would fare in a fight with the Taliban. In reality, they never really fought” during the Taliban blitz across the country, said Seth G. Jones, an Afghanistan expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Two decades ago, this dynamic played out in reverse. When U.S.-backed Afghan militias began capturing territory from the Taliban in late 2001, Taliban fighters folded relatively quickly, and both Kabul and Kandahar fell before the end of that year. Some Taliban surrendered, some switched sides, and far larger numbers simply melted into the population to begin planning what would become a 20-year insurgency. Intelligence officials have long observed that Afghans make cold calculations about who is likely to prevail in a conflict and back the winning side, a tactic that allows for battlefield gains to accumulate quickly until a tipping point turns the fight into a rout, according to current and former analysts. At the core of the American loss in Afghanistan was the inability to build a security force that could stand on its own, but that error was compounded by Washington’s failure to listen to those raising questions about the Afghan military. Part of the problem, according to former officials, is that the can-do attitude of the military frequently got in the way of candid, accurate assessments of how the Afghan security forces were doing. Though no one was blind to desertions or battlefield losses, American commanders given the task of training the Afghan military were reluctant to admit their efforts were failing. Even those in the military skeptical of the skills of the Afghan security forces believed they would continue to fight for a time after the Americans left. For months, intelligence officials have been making comparisons between the Afghan national security forces and the South Vietnamese army at the end of the Vietnam War. It took two years for South Vietnam’s military, known by the American acronym ARVN, to collapse after the United States withdrew troops and financial support. Optimists believed the Afghan military — with American funding — could last nearly as long. Pessimists thought it would be far shorter. “For the last two or three years I have been ruefully remarking that ANSF is Afghan for ARVN,” said Bergreen, who worked on intelligence matters on Capitol Hill from 2003 to 2021. “There was an acknowledgment that the Afghan forces were not up to the long-term fight. But I don’t think anyone expected them to melt away quite that fast.” Recent Taliban diplomatic maneuvers with other countries in the region, most notably China, lent an air of inevitability to a Taliban takeover that further demoralized Afghan government troops, Jones said. In the end, analysts said, the Taliban won with the strategy that has so often proved successful during Afghanistan’s many decades of war — they outlasted their opponent. “I am not that surprised it was as fast and sweeping as it was,” said Lisa Maddox, a former CIA analyst. “The Taliban certainly has shown their ability to persevere, hunker down and come back even after they have been beaten back. And you have a population that is so tired and weary of conflict that they are going to flip and support the winning side so they can survive.”

Intelligence warned of Afghan military collapse, despite Biden’s assurances

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam may warned that Hong Kong government may cut ties with one of the city's key legal profession associations if it gets involved in politics. This is being seen as her latest warning to civil society groups.

Her comments have come in the run up to August 24 elections for five seats on the council of Hong Kong's Law Society. It is a professional association and regulator for Hong Kong's 12 thousand solicitors.

In April, Lam had said that the government could intervene if necessary in the Bar Association for barristers, whose chairman Paul Harris has been labelled an "anti-China" politician by top Beijing officials after he criticised jail terms handed to some pro-democracy politicians.

Although the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the Bar Association, debates in its recent elections have focused on a more liberal agenda. This year, four of the candidates are considered outspoken, raising fears among some government officials of a political agenda.

"If the Law Society’s professionalism is trumped by politics, the government will consider cutting ties with it," Lam told reporters at her regular weekly news conference.

The Law Society said it remained politically neutral.

"We are in constant communication with relevant governmental departments, expressing opinion to improve the practice environment and regularly responds, from the legal perspective, to consultations on different issues," Law Society President Melissa Pang said.

The Bar Association did not immediately respond to Reuter's request for comment. It has said it is not a political organisation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam may warned that Hong Kong government may cut ties with one of the city's key legal profession associations if it gets involved in politics.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam may warned that Hong Kong government may cut ties with one of the city's key legal profession associations if it gets involved in politics. This is being seen as her latest warning to civil society groups. Her comments have come in the run up to August 24 elections for five seats on the council of Hong Kong's Law Society. It is a professional association and regulator for Hong Kong's 12 thousand solicitors. In April, Lam had said that the government could intervene if necessary in the Bar Association for barristers, whose chairman Paul Harris has been labelled an "anti-China" politician by top Beijing officials after he criticised jail terms handed to some pro-democracy politicians. Although the Law Society is seen as more conservative than the Bar Association, debates in its recent elections have focused on a more liberal agenda. This year, four of the candidates are considered outspoken, raising fears among some government officials of a political agenda. "If the Law Society’s professionalism is trumped by politics, the government will consider cutting ties with it," Lam told reporters at her regular weekly news conference. The Law Society said it remained politically neutral. "We are in constant communication with relevant governmental departments, expressing opinion to improve the practice environment and regularly responds, from the legal perspective, to consultations on different issues," Law Society President Melissa Pang said. The Bar Association did not immediately respond to Reuter's request for comment. It has said it is not a political organisation. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong leader warns solicitors' group to stay out of politics

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that more than 40 thousand wounded during Afghanistan fighting have been treated since June at health facilities supported by it. This includes 7,600 so far this month.

ICRC treated 4042 during first 10 days of August. This means that more than 3500 were treated in past week as the Taliban captured large swathes of territory in Afghanistan including Kabul.

ICRC director-general Robert Mardini voiced relief that "devastating urban warfare" was avoided in Kabul when the Taliban fighters advanced into the city.

"Our medical teams and physical rehabilitation centres expect to receive patients for months and years to come as they recover from wounds from explosive devices that litter the country, many of them newly laid in recent weeks," he said in a statement.

"It is heartbreaking to see our wards filled with children and young men and women who have lost limbs," he added.

The ICRC, which has worked in Afghanistan since 1987, deploys some 1,800 national and international staff, including surgical teams, spokesman Florian Seriex said.

(With inputs from agencies)

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that more than 40 thousand wounded during Afghanistan fighting have been treated since June at health facilities supported by it.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that more than 40 thousand wounded during Afghanistan fighting have been treated since June at health facilities supported by it. This includes 7,600 so far this month. ICRC treated 4042 during first 10 days of August. This means that more than 3500 were treated in past week as the Taliban captured large swathes of territory in Afghanistan including Kabul. ICRC director-general Robert Mardini voiced relief that "devastating urban warfare" was avoided in Kabul when the Taliban fighters advanced into the city. "Our medical teams and physical rehabilitation centres expect to receive patients for months and years to come as they recover from wounds from explosive devices that litter the country, many of them newly laid in recent weeks," he said in a statement. "It is heartbreaking to see our wards filled with children and young men and women who have lost limbs," he added. The ICRC, which has worked in Afghanistan since 1987, deploys some 1,800 national and international staff, including surgical teams, spokesman Florian Seriex said. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: More than 40,000 wounded treated since June, says Red Cross

The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifle of choice for militant groups because of their rugged design, but some Taliban fighters are trading them in for captured U.S. guns as Afghanistan's government collapses.

Video and pictures published by the Taliban on Twitter and elsewhere show fighters carrying M4 carbines and M16 rifles discarded by Afghan army units. Other images show Taliban forces capturing abandoned government vehicles.

The U.S. guns are more accurate and have greater range than the their AK-47s, but on their own may not deliver much added capability on the battlefield.

"Some of the hardware might be useful to have if looking to intimidate rival warlords, but that's about it," said Grant Newsham, a retired United States Marine Corps colonel. "They’ve done rather well with what they already had."

Still, the image of U.S.-made weapons in the hands of the Taliban as it sweeps aside the Afghan National Army - funded with billions of dollars from the U.S. government over the past two decades - is a propaganda coup for the militants.

Many of the AK-47s in Afghanistan are copies, but some were left over from the 10-year Soviet occupation that ended in 1989. First manufactured just after the end of World War Two, based on a German design, the assault rifle has since become common around the world in the arsenals of governments and insurgent groups.

The American weapons could be in service with the Taliban for years because of plentiful ammunition supplies. The 5.56mm round it fires is available to civilian gun owners in the United States.

"The Russians crank out millions of rounds of AR 5.56 NATO each year for the U.S. market under the brand names of Tula, Wolf, and Red Army just to name a few," said another retired U.S. Marines officer, who asked not to be identified because his current employer does not allow him to talk to the media.

"I suspect the Taliban's allies will have no trouble supplying parts for just about any infantry system," he added.

The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifle of choice for militant groups because of their rugged design, but some Taliban fighters are trading them in for captured U.

The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifle of choice for militant groups because of their rugged design, but some Taliban fighters are trading them in for captured U.S. guns as Afghanistan's government collapses. Video and pictures published by the Taliban on Twitter and elsewhere show fighters carrying M4 carbines and M16 rifles discarded by Afghan army units. Other images show Taliban forces capturing abandoned government vehicles. The U.S. guns are more accurate and have greater range than the their AK-47s, but on their own may not deliver much added capability on the battlefield. "Some of the hardware might be useful to have if looking to intimidate rival warlords, but that's about it," said Grant Newsham, a retired United States Marine Corps colonel. "They’ve done rather well with what they already had." Still, the image of U.S.-made weapons in the hands of the Taliban as it sweeps aside the Afghan National Army - funded with billions of dollars from the U.S. government over the past two decades - is a propaganda coup for the militants. Many of the AK-47s in Afghanistan are copies, but some were left over from the 10-year Soviet occupation that ended in 1989. First manufactured just after the end of World War Two, based on a German design, the assault rifle has since become common around the world in the arsenals of governments and insurgent groups. The American weapons could be in service with the Taliban for years because of plentiful ammunition supplies. The 5.56mm round it fires is available to civilian gun owners in the United States. "The Russians crank out millions of rounds of AR 5.56 NATO each year for the U.S. market under the brand names of Tula, Wolf, and Red Army just to name a few," said another retired U.S. Marines officer, who asked not to be identified because his current employer does not allow him to talk to the media. "I suspect the Taliban's allies will have no trouble supplying parts for just about any infantry system," he added.

As Taliban takes over, some swap iconic AK-47s for made-in-America rifles

The Taliban have forbidden their fighters from entering diplomatic buildings or from interfering with embassy vehicles. The group has also asked its fighters to maintain discipline and not trouble ordinary people as they go about their business.

"Taliban members have been ordered at all levels to ensure that we don't disrespect any country's presence in Afghanistan," said a senior Taliban official, who declined to be identified. He was quoted by Reuters.

The efforts are being seen as Taliban's efforts to calm environment of panic. After their entry into Kabul, the residents were seen in a frenzy to leave the country. Although Taliban has made some conciliatory statements, it remains to be seen what sort of policies they follow through with, especially those concerning women.

Taliban is known for having a hardline stance towards women.

Meanwhile, Russia on Tuesday called for an 'inclusive' political dialogue in Afghanistan.

"We support the beginning of an inclusive national dialogue with the participation of all of Afghanistan's political, ethnic and religious groups," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments carried by Russian state TV.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban have forbidden their fighters from entering diplomatic buildings or from interfering with embassy vehicles. The group has also asked its fighters to maintain discipline and not trouble ordinary people as they go about their business.

The Taliban have forbidden their fighters from entering diplomatic buildings or from interfering with embassy vehicles. The group has also asked its fighters to maintain discipline and not trouble ordinary people as they go about their business. "Taliban members have been ordered at all levels to ensure that we don't disrespect any country's presence in Afghanistan," said a senior Taliban official, who declined to be identified. He was quoted by Reuters. The efforts are being seen as Taliban's efforts to calm environment of panic. After their entry into Kabul, the residents were seen in a frenzy to leave the country. Although Taliban has made some conciliatory statements, it remains to be seen what sort of policies they follow through with, especially those concerning women. Taliban is known for having a hardline stance towards women. Meanwhile, Russia on Tuesday called for an 'inclusive' political dialogue in Afghanistan. "We support the beginning of an inclusive national dialogue with the participation of all of Afghanistan's political, ethnic and religious groups," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments carried by Russian state TV. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban forbid fighters from entering diplomatic buildings

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought. But for those who have been robbed of their very basic social rights, it all boils down to whether they will be able to stay alive with dignity. Women in Afghanistan are battling with such dilemmas, now that Taliban have returned to power.

The group is known for its hardline stance against gender equality and women from all walks of life in Afghanistan are apprehensive that the progress of the last two decades will amount to nothing now that men with centuries-old thoughts are calling the shots.

The social media space is full of such sentiment. There is a touch of nostalgia to the fear. A longing for the days which appear to flit away.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is heart-breaking. Back in 2019, these beautiful Afghan women from Afghanistan's first and only female-only orchestra were full of hope. 
 
As the Taliban have invaded Afghanistan, women like them will be banned from singing. They'll be confined to their homes. <a href="https://t.co/OenYV0DcgE">pic.twitter.com/OenYV0DcgE</a>
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih/status/1426999324014174209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

What have girls like these done to Taliban to make them keep 'under control'? They perhaps were not even born when the ruthless regime was in power in late 90s.

In last two decades after Taliban's defeat in 2001, women could at least dream of something. Women politicians, journalists and even security personnel defined the changing social scene in Afghanistan.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Women anchors on <a href="https://twitter.com/TOLOnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TOLOnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/YcutkgRpcX">pic.twitter.com/YcutkgRpcX</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1427547511955214336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A single day changed everything.

Taliban stormed into a defenceless Afghan capital without facing any resistance and ideas of a new Afghanistan appeared to be something that defined a bygone era.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Same country, same journalist, one day difference<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfganistanWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfganistanWomen</a> <a href="https://t.co/mvKQzE1sIr">pic.twitter.com/mvKQzE1sIr</a>
— Andrei Menshenin ✈️ (@A_Menshenin) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_Menshenin/status/1427286283135688706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The chaos at Kabul airport, the fear among even men, were just an indication of how bad things were.

On Monday, a blog written by an Afghan woman in The Guardian made waves&nbsp;online. She describes how women felt when Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday. The world appeared to assume tones distinctly different than before.

The unnamed woman was at the university when she heard about Taliban's entry in Kabul.

"We all wanted to get home, but we couldn’t use public transport. The drivers would not let us in their cars because they did not want to take responsibility for transporting a woman...," she writes as published by The Guardian.

"I worked for so many days and nights to become the person I am today, and this morning when I reached home, the very first thing my sisters and I did was hide our IDs, diplomas and certificates. It was devastating. Why should we hide the things that we should be proud of? In Afghanistan now we are not allowed to be known as the people we are," says the woman as mentioned in The Guardian.

You can read more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-womans-impassioned-blog-makes-waves-online-406127">here</a>

The Taliban have attempted to sound conciliatory. On Tuesday, they even said that they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-say-they-want-women-to-join-their-government-406258">wanted women to join their government</a>. But looking at Taliban's record, a more concrete declaration and practice is required to change the hearts and minds of Afghan women who only see darkness ahead.

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought.

What is Utopia? In other words, a highly perfect society? We have various definitions based on our own perspectives. Some would say it is about everyone having enough money to do whatever they want, others would drift towards having freedom of thought. But for those who have been robbed of their very basic social rights, it all boils down to whether they will be able to stay alive with dignity. Women in Afghanistan are battling with such dilemmas, now that Taliban have returned to power. The group is known for its hardline stance against gender equality and women from all walks of life in Afghanistan are apprehensive that the progress of the last two decades will amount to nothing now that men with centuries-old thoughts are calling the shots. The social media space is full of such sentiment. There is a touch of nostalgia to the fear. A longing for the days which appear to flit away. This is heart-breaking. Back in 2019, these beautiful Afghan women from Afghanistan's first and only female-only orchestra were full of hope. As the Taliban have invaded Afghanistan, women like them will be banned from singing. They'll be confined to their homes. pic.twitter.com/OenYV0DcgE — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) August 15, 2021 × What have girls like these done to Taliban to make them keep 'under control'? They perhaps were not even born when the ruthless regime was in power in late 90s. In last two decades after Taliban's defeat in 2001, women could at least dream of something. Women politicians, journalists and even security personnel defined the changing social scene in Afghanistan. Women anchors on @TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/YcutkgRpcX — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 17, 2021 × A single day changed everything. Taliban stormed into a defenceless Afghan capital without facing any resistance and ideas of a new Afghanistan appeared to be something that defined a bygone era. Same country, same journalist, one day difference#Afghanistan #AfganistanWomen pic.twitter.com/mvKQzE1sIr — Andrei Menshenin ✈️ (@A_Menshenin) August 16, 2021 × The chaos at Kabul airport, the fear among even men, were just an indication of how bad things were. On Monday, a blog written by an Afghan woman in The Guardian made waves online. She describes how women felt when Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday. The world appeared to assume tones distinctly different than before. The unnamed woman was at the university when she heard about Taliban's entry in Kabul. "We all wanted to get home, but we couldn’t use public transport. The drivers would not let us in their cars because they did not want to take responsibility for transporting a woman...," she writes as published by The Guardian. "I worked for so many days and nights to become the person I am today, and this morning when I reached home, the very first thing my sisters and I did was hide our IDs, diplomas and certificates. It was devastating. Why should we hide the things that we should be proud of? In Afghanistan now we are not allowed to be known as the people we are," says the woman as mentioned in The Guardian. You can read more here The Taliban have attempted to sound conciliatory. On Tuesday, they even said that they wanted women to join their government. But looking at Taliban's record, a more concrete declaration and practice is required to change the hearts and minds of Afghan women who only see darkness ahead.

Will such images of happy women in Afghanistan be a thing of the past?

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life.

The comment on women joining the newly emerging Afghan government came from Enamullah Samangani, as per AP news agency. Samangani is a member of Taliban's cultural commission. He said that the Islamic Emirate did not want women to be victims and they should be in the government structure according to Shariah law.

Previous rule by the Taliban in the late 1990s saw them adhering to the hardline stance towards women.

During that period, the Taliban imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins.

There is apprehension and fear among women who think that it will be a return to 'dark days' once Taliban solidify their grip on power.

There are expressions of these sentiments in the online space as well.

On Monday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-womans-impassioned-blog-makes-waves-online-406127">an impassioned blog</a> written by a 24-year-old unnamed Afghan woman made waves online.

Women politicians and journalists have voiced concern about their own safety as well.

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life.

Taliban on Tuesday declared amnesty across Afghanistan and said that they want women to join their government. These are one of the first comments on governance and Afghan women's participation in the country's political and social life. The comment on women joining the newly emerging Afghan government came from Enamullah Samangani, as per AP news agency. Samangani is a member of Taliban's cultural commission. He said that the Islamic Emirate did not want women to be victims and they should be in the government structure according to Shariah law. Previous rule by the Taliban in the late 1990s saw them adhering to the hardline stance towards women. During that period, the Taliban imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins. There is apprehension and fear among women who think that it will be a return to 'dark days' once Taliban solidify their grip on power. There are expressions of these sentiments in the online space as well. On Monday, an impassioned blog written by a 24-year-old unnamed Afghan woman made waves online. Women politicians and journalists have voiced concern about their own safety as well.

Taliban say they want women to join their government

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