Reports say the Taliban have launched an operation to defeat the ISIS-K terrorists. Why is it so important for the Taliban to fight another terror group? Can the Taliban even afford to fight ISIS? Know in this video.

Taliban launches offensive operation to defeat ISIS-K, a regional affiliate of Islamic State Group

Its been well over 2 months since the Taliban took over control of Afghanistan since then country has been plagued with multiple economic crises. From the falling value of its currency to increasing fuel prices. WION correspondent Anas Mallick spoke to the Taliban finance ministry spokesperson, listen to this exclusive conversation.

Taliban's finance ministry spokesperson speaks to WION on rising fuel prices

Another terror attack strikes Afghanistan, this time in a mine blast in Asadabad city which lies in the center of Kunar province. According to the sources the explosion took place on a Taliban range of vehicles.

Afghanistan: Several embassies in Kabul issue threat alert advisories

Another terror attack strikes Afghanistan, this time in a mine blast in Asadabad city which lies in the center of Kunar province. According to the sources the explosion took place on a Taliban range of vehicles. Two people have reportedly been killed and 13 others injured. Govt sources say a police chief of Shigel district has been killed.

Afghanistan: 2 killed and 13 others injured including in a bomb blast in Asadabad city

Afghanistan: Mine blast rocks Asadabad city in Kunar province

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually participate in the G20 Extraordinary Leaders' Summit, which has been organized to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The agenda of the meeting will include a discussion on response to humanitarian needs and access to basic services and livelihood.

PM Modi to address G20 summit on Afghanistan

Afghan women activists are risking their lives in order to protest demanding their basic rights to work, their right to education. Since the Taliban takeover, women have been blocked from returning to their jobs, their classrooms.

Worry about women's rights restricted under the rule of the Taliban

People in Afghanistan are still clamoring to leave the country, crowds of people desperate to get travel documents gathered at the passport office in Kabul.

Months of passport delay restricted Afghans trying to leave Kabul

Why are the Taliban stripping away so many of Afghan women’s hard-won freedoms?

That may seem like a facetious question. When the Taliban ruled the country in the 1990s, after all, their regime was known for having some of the world’s harshest restrictions on women. The group still adheres to a fundamentalist vision of Islamic society.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/times-have-changed-pictures-of-afghan-women-before-taliban-rule-go-viral-406508">'Times have changed': Pictures of Afghan women before Taliban rule go viral</a>

But ideology is only part of the story.

Every group has a range of beliefs, and not all of them become priorities for governance. Some Taliban officials, particularly those who conducted peace negotiations and favoured international engagement, have suggested that this iteration of Taliban governance might be less restrictive toward women. And there are certainly economic incentives, as the resumption of international aid would be based at least in part on human rights considerations.

None of that has seemed to make a difference thus far. Although some Taliban officials continue to say that conditions will improve, women are still being kept from workplaces and schools. Each week seems to bring a new report of restrictions.

In that light, the Taliban’s decision to restrict women’s freedom begins to look like a political choice as much as it is a matter of ideology. Understanding why the Taliban might see that choice as rewarding, experts say, offers insight into the group’s state-building efforts, and to the nature of the society, they now rule again.

The Insecurity of Taliban Security

“I did not for a minute believe that the Taliban had changed,” said Muqaddesa Yourish, a former deputy minister of commerce who fled to the United States with her family when the Taliban took power. “If anything has changed about them, it is that they know how to deal with the West.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/women-teachers-face-uncertain-future-after-taliban-bans-them-from-schools-417874">Women teachers face uncertain future after Taliban bans them from schools</a>

Less than two months after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, their promised allowances for women in the workplace and schools have yet to appear. Most women are still banned from going to work, a supposedly temporary measure the Taliban claim is necessary for security.

The leadership is using the same wording in describing when women might be allowed to attend public universities. And when secondary schools reopened, the Taliban directed boys to return to the classroom but said nothing about girls, which families across the country understood as a directive that girls should stay home.

Groups like the Taliban often struggle to make the transition from violent insurgency to actual governance, said Dipali Mukhopadhyay, a researcher at the University of Minnesota who studies rebel governance in Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere.

They do not have the experience, funding or personnel to deliver sophisticated government services. Instead, their main strength is controlling security — using their status as the country’s most powerful violent group to operate a kind of country-level protection racket, exchanging public safety for obedience.

“We shouldn’t buy this narrative that they are an alternative to the previous government because they are providing security,” said Metra Mehran, co-founder of the Feminine Perspectives Campaign, which sought to bring women’s voices into peace negotiations. “They’re not providing security; they’ve just stopped killing us.”

Mukhopadhyay echoed that sentiment. “That’s the cornerstone of understanding what the Taliban is offering: security and also the threat of force,” she said. “But people, particularly women, know that form of security comes with an ideology attached to it.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/as-need-in-afghanistan-grows-dire-aid-groups-plead-for-help-417450">As need in Afghanistan grows dire, aid groups plead for help</a>

Viewed through that lens, restricting women’s freedom serves as a powerful demonstration of the Taliban’s power. When women and girls vanish from offices and schools, it shows that the Taliban have enough power — and implicitly, enough capacity and willingness to use violence — to dramatically reengineer public spaces.

Mukhopadhyay noted that the Taliban had not only dismantled the Ministry for Women’s Affairs, but had also replaced it with the Ministry for Vice and Virtue, the feared religious police known for their public beatings of women who went out without a male relative or were dressed in something other than a burqa.

“That’s a very potent symbol of who’s winning within the Taliban right now,” she said.

‘The Talib in Every Man’

But marketing is only part of the story. Despite support and funding for gender-equality efforts during 20 years of US-backed governments, Afghan women’s freedoms have always been fragile.

Yourish said she has always sensed that many Afghan men were uncomfortable with women in public life. Although her own father and husband were supportive of her career, she said, they often seemed like outliers.

In the final days before the Taliban took power, Yourish said, she and her friends traded stories of how “the Talib in every man is coming out,” she said. Male strangers approached her and other women on the street, shouting cryptic threats like “your days will be over soon,” she said. She could sense women’s progress crumbling, she said, even before the previous government fell.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-taliban-fire-shots-at-kabul-women-protesting-for-right-to-study-417115">Watch: Taliban fire shots at Kabul women protesting for right to study</a>

On paper and in the tables of foreign aid budgets, gender equality was a priority for two decades. And there were substantial improvements for many women, especially those who were educated and lived in more urban areas.

But Afghanistan remains a deeply patriarchal society. The Taliban’s promise to return to “traditional” values, in which women are subordinate to their male relatives, is an attractive offer to many Afghan men.

Alice Evans, a researcher at King’s College London who studies women’s economic and social progress, said women’s rights were caught in a “patrilineal trap.”

Societies where family wealth passes through the male line traditionally place a high value on brides’ chastity, Evans said. “Girls are then closely policed to improve their marriage prospects and family honor,” she said, and norms develop that keep women out of public life.

The dynamic is self-reinforcing: Families do not want to risk deviating from social norms on their own, so everyone ends up stuck in a system in which women have to stay close to home.

To get out of that trap, women’s wages have to become high enough that the benefits of working outweigh the risks to family honour, Evans said. In East Asia, for instance, rapid industrialization raised women’s potential earnings, effectively buying them out of the honour-based rules that constrained them to the home.

That did not happen in Afghanistan, where economic productivity and employment languished despite the influx of aid. Women’s wages did not rise enough, in enough places, to outweigh their families’ honor-based concerns, or to transform social norms.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-exclusive-life-under-taliban-women-run-studio-forced-to-shut-down-in-kabul-417039">WION exclusive- Life under Taliban: Women-run studio forced to shut down in Kabul</a>

That may strengthen the Taliban. Rebel groups that are seen as grounded in local communities and values tend to be more successful, Mukhopadhyay said. For conservative Afghans, particularly men, restricting women’s freedom may be a way for the Taliban to claim they support local values.

But it could still backfire, Mukhopadhyay said, if restrictions are so extreme that Afghans see them as overreach by leaders who do not understand how the country has changed. For decades, “the Talibs were living across the border in Pakistan,” she said. “Their perceptions of Islam, and modernity, are not the same as those of people in Afghanistan.”

Women’s employment did become widespread enough that many families relied, at least partly, on their income, said Manizha Wafeq, co-founder and president of the Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Their earnings have vanished in recent weeks as a result of Taliban restrictions, and that could cut into the public’s acceptance of their rule.

“It’s already an economic crisis for the whole country,” Wafeq said. “People are already trying to figure out how to feed their families.”

Why are the Taliban stripping away so many of Afghan women’s hard-won freedoms? That may seem like a facetious question. When the Taliban ruled the country in the 1990s, after all, their regime was known for having some of the world’s harshest restrictions on women.

Why are the Taliban stripping away so many of Afghan women’s hard-won freedoms? That may seem like a facetious question. When the Taliban ruled the country in the 1990s, after all, their regime was known for having some of the world’s harshest restrictions on women. The group still adheres to a fundamentalist vision of Islamic society. Also read | 'Times have changed': Pictures of Afghan women before Taliban rule go viral But ideology is only part of the story. Every group has a range of beliefs, and not all of them become priorities for governance. Some Taliban officials, particularly those who conducted peace negotiations and favoured international engagement, have suggested that this iteration of Taliban governance might be less restrictive toward women. And there are certainly economic incentives, as the resumption of international aid would be based at least in part on human rights considerations. None of that has seemed to make a difference thus far. Although some Taliban officials continue to say that conditions will improve, women are still being kept from workplaces and schools. Each week seems to bring a new report of restrictions. In that light, the Taliban’s decision to restrict women’s freedom begins to look like a political choice as much as it is a matter of ideology. Understanding why the Taliban might see that choice as rewarding, experts say, offers insight into the group’s state-building efforts, and to the nature of the society, they now rule again. The Insecurity of Taliban Security “I did not for a minute believe that the Taliban had changed,” said Muqaddesa Yourish, a former deputy minister of commerce who fled to the United States with her family when the Taliban took power. “If anything has changed about them, it is that they know how to deal with the West.” Also read | Women teachers face uncertain future after Taliban bans them from schools Less than two months after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, their promised allowances for women in the workplace and schools have yet to appear. Most women are still banned from going to work, a supposedly temporary measure the Taliban claim is necessary for security. The leadership is using the same wording in describing when women might be allowed to attend public universities. And when secondary schools reopened, the Taliban directed boys to return to the classroom but said nothing about girls, which families across the country understood as a directive that girls should stay home. Groups like the Taliban often struggle to make the transition from violent insurgency to actual governance, said Dipali Mukhopadhyay, a researcher at the University of Minnesota who studies rebel governance in Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. They do not have the experience, funding or personnel to deliver sophisticated government services. Instead, their main strength is controlling security — using their status as the country’s most powerful violent group to operate a kind of country-level protection racket, exchanging public safety for obedience. “We shouldn’t buy this narrative that they are an alternative to the previous government because they are providing security,” said Metra Mehran, co-founder of the Feminine Perspectives Campaign, which sought to bring women’s voices into peace negotiations. “They’re not providing security; they’ve just stopped killing us.” Mukhopadhyay echoed that sentiment. “That’s the cornerstone of understanding what the Taliban is offering: security and also the threat of force,” she said. “But people, particularly women, know that form of security comes with an ideology attached to it.” Also read | As need in Afghanistan grows dire, aid groups plead for help Viewed through that lens, restricting women’s freedom serves as a powerful demonstration of the Taliban’s power. When women and girls vanish from offices and schools, it shows that the Taliban have enough power — and implicitly, enough capacity and willingness to use violence — to dramatically reengineer public spaces. Mukhopadhyay noted that the Taliban had not only dismantled the Ministry for Women’s Affairs, but had also replaced it with the Ministry for Vice and Virtue, the feared religious police known for their public beatings of women who went out without a male relative or were dressed in something other than a burqa. “That’s a very potent symbol of who’s winning within the Taliban right now,” she said. ‘The Talib in Every Man’ But marketing is only part of the story. Despite support and funding for gender-equality efforts during 20 years of US-backed governments, Afghan women’s freedoms have always been fragile. Yourish said she has always sensed that many Afghan men were uncomfortable with women in public life. Although her own father and husband were supportive of her career, she said, they often seemed like outliers. In the final days before the Taliban took power, Yourish said, she and her friends traded stories of how “the Talib in every man is coming out,” she said. Male strangers approached her and other women on the street, shouting cryptic threats like “your days will be over soon,” she said. She could sense women’s progress crumbling, she said, even before the previous government fell. Also read | Watch: Taliban fire shots at Kabul women protesting for right to study On paper and in the tables of foreign aid budgets, gender equality was a priority for two decades. And there were substantial improvements for many women, especially those who were educated and lived in more urban areas. But Afghanistan remains a deeply patriarchal society. The Taliban’s promise to return to “traditional” values, in which women are subordinate to their male relatives, is an attractive offer to many Afghan men. Alice Evans, a researcher at King’s College London who studies women’s economic and social progress, said women’s rights were caught in a “patrilineal trap.” Societies where family wealth passes through the male line traditionally place a high value on brides’ chastity, Evans said. “Girls are then closely policed to improve their marriage prospects and family honor,” she said, and norms develop that keep women out of public life. The dynamic is self-reinforcing: Families do not want to risk deviating from social norms on their own, so everyone ends up stuck in a system in which women have to stay close to home. To get out of that trap, women’s wages have to become high enough that the benefits of working outweigh the risks to family honour, Evans said. In East Asia, for instance, rapid industrialization raised women’s potential earnings, effectively buying them out of the honour-based rules that constrained them to the home. That did not happen in Afghanistan, where economic productivity and employment languished despite the influx of aid. Women’s wages did not rise enough, in enough places, to outweigh their families’ honor-based concerns, or to transform social norms. Also read | WION exclusive- Life under Taliban: Women-run studio forced to shut down in Kabul That may strengthen the Taliban. Rebel groups that are seen as grounded in local communities and values tend to be more successful, Mukhopadhyay said. For conservative Afghans, particularly men, restricting women’s freedom may be a way for the Taliban to claim they support local values. But it could still backfire, Mukhopadhyay said, if restrictions are so extreme that Afghans see them as overreach by leaders who do not understand how the country has changed. For decades, “the Talibs were living across the border in Pakistan,” she said. “Their perceptions of Islam, and modernity, are not the same as those of people in Afghanistan.” Women’s employment did become widespread enough that many families relied, at least partly, on their income, said Manizha Wafeq, co-founder and president of the Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Their earnings have vanished in recent weeks as a result of Taliban restrictions, and that could cut into the public’s acceptance of their rule. “It’s already an economic crisis for the whole country,” Wafeq said. “People are already trying to figure out how to feed their families.”

Why the Taliban’s repression of women may be more tactical than ideological

He couldn't hop on a plane and buy his freedom amid the chaos of Taliban takeover of Kabul in August.

So, he stayed.

The fear of losing&nbsp;life was so grave that he had walked for days straight, climbed rocky mountains and braved the unforgiving weather. Since Panjshir&nbsp;fell—last ray of hope, we reckon—he has been hiding from what he calls 'a prison-like' Taliban administration.

His family, scattered. His independence, long gone.

In an exclusive interview with WION from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, a fiesty ***Aamir tells us the story of life under Taliban regime&nbsp;and the uncertainty that lurks.

 
WION: You tried but couldn't flee Afghanistan and now you and the rest of your family is hiding at different locations. And, as you say, Taliban has taken over your family home. What forbade you from leaving Afghanistan and why did it get especially bad for you and your family?

 
AAMIR: Yes, we had tried to flee from Kabul since our family, especially my father and my brother, were engaged directly with the native forces as military officers. During the evacuation, we tried to flee from Afghanistan. But, unfortunately, we couldn't do that. Since the Taliban took control of Kabul city, we have been in Panjshir Valley alongside the resistance forces of the Pakistani drones’ interference in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-in-panjshir-final-hours-before-the-fall-411190">Panjshir Valley</a>. The resistance forces defended initially, so we left (Panjshir), we came back to Kabul, and now we are hiding inside Kabul city. Each member of the family is living in separate areas. If one is to be captured by the Taliban, then the rest of us could get informed. And now, living under Taliban is very difficult. It is like a prison, whole country is like prisoners who are inside a jail. If you go on in the city, you may recognise you're living in the city of zombies. So, we are trying somehow to manage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-exclusive-life-under-taliban-living-in-the-land-of-zombies-416292">WION exclusive: Life under Taliban- ‘Living in the land of zombies’</a>

WION: You are a self-proclaimed supporter of the resistance movement and have sought refuge in Kabul after leaving Panjshir for obvious reasons. How did you make that journey and why was it important for you to be part of the resistance?

 
AAMIR: I have been a part of the resistance forces and I have been supporting—and I am still supporting. After Panjshir fell, we made our journey (back) to Kabul city. We climbed up the mountains from Dara district, and then descended to Nejrab district and from there, it was one-and-a-half day walking distance to reach Kabul city. It was around 80 kms. Yes, it was quite difficult and we made the journey. We came to Kabul. Life is quite difficult here. We are all hiding, both men and women of the family, with our relatives and friends. Living in Kabul is horrible; it’s terrifying under this state (of) terrorism. It is very disgusting that we live in such a country and we lost a democracy like we (once) had, unfortunately.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-wion-exclusive--afghan-actor-warina-hussain-i-dont-blame-women-who-have-taken-up-arms-in-afghanistan-409865">WION exclusive | Afghan actor Warina Hussain: I don't blame women who have taken up arms in Afghanistan</a>

WION: The female members of your family--and even female friends--must be terrified. How are they getting by?

 
AAMIR: Yes, some of my female family members like my siblings, or my wife or my friends whom I had who were working with the private or governmental organisations, have been restricted to not go to their jobs or to the academic areas like universities or schools. So I think removing female employees or half of the society will lead Afghanistan again to 90s of the Taliban regime. So, mainly the Taliban is keen to establish male-dominance kind of governance in Afghanistan. And this is really sad for open-minded people like us. And, we are losing mostly like a lot of educated people. I think the female or the woman situation in Afghanistan is very bad. And they are in the process of being removed from the society. And their engagement in government sector or private sector--media or wherever--they have been working and now they are restricted not to go.

 
WION: You mentioned your family members have served different embassies over the years and now they are hiding away. How's life for them?

 
AAMIR: My family members work with embassies. All (of) my family members who have been in charge of security and protection of all embassies inside Kabul city for a very long period of time, we couldn't flee from Kabul (and) now we are in a very high risk of dismissal: all the family members. And we are being called by the Taliban, ‘this family (referring to his clan) or that group of people are servants of the ignorant inside of Aghanistan.’ So, this is making our lives extremely difficult and the family members are living under a very, very high mental pressure. Most of the family members, who directly worked with the forces and the embassies, are now in very deep depression and mental health problems. So living under Taliban, with such a background, is making life very difficult in Kabul.

 
WION: You mentioned studying in India for a good number of years. How was that experience for you? What is the main difference between both the countries you observed during your stay?

 
AAMIR: I have done my bachelor's and master's both in India. So the thing I observed in India is that it is a highly diverse country with many religions, many ethnicities and many languages. So they were living side by side with each other. And they're trying to make their nation great. And&nbsp;if I compare, then you will see that&nbsp;Afghanistan is also a highly diverse country. People who are Muslims, who are Hindus, and Jewish are living inside Afghanistan. But, the problem in Afghanistan is, a fundamentalist part or a group of Muslims are coming and taking control of Afghanistan with violence. And...inside Afghanistan, there is an ethnic war.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-watch--wion-exclusive-afghan-pop-star-aryana-sayeed-im-grateful-to-be-alive-i-was-talibans-target-408549">Watch | WION exclusive: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed: I'm grateful to be alive, I was Taliban's target</a>

 
WION: Also, have you received any support or words of encouragement from your Indian friends?

 
AAMIR: Yes, I'm in touch. And my Indian friends are consistently calling me and texting me. And they're asking about how the situation is going on here. They're asking about my life, and about what I'm doing here. And especially my classmates, my teachers, my college friends, and even the friends I used to meet at coffee shops in India. And I'm really thankful to the people of India, especially my friends who have been in touch with me and who have been calling me and texting all the time. From the time Taliban took control till now, every day they are in touch with me, they're asking about me, and they're just requesting me to take care of myself and to be in touch with them. Thank you so much, India.

 
***The name of the interviewee has been changed and other information withheld for security reasons.&nbsp;

Check out the full interaction here:

&nbsp;

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/One-DVq-yCY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He couldn't hop on a plane and buy his freedom amid the chaos of Taliban takeover of Kabul in August. So, he stayed. The fear of losing life was so grave that he had walked for days straight, climbed rocky mountains and braved the unforgiving weather.

He couldn't hop on a plane and buy his freedom amid the chaos of Taliban takeover of Kabul in August. So, he stayed. The fear of losing life was so grave that he had walked for days straight, climbed rocky mountains and braved the unforgiving weather. Since Panjshir fell—last ray of hope, we reckon—he has been hiding from what he calls 'a prison-like' Taliban administration. His family, scattered. His independence, long gone. In an exclusive interview with WION from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, a fiesty ***Aamir tells us the story of life under Taliban regime and the uncertainty that lurks. WION: You tried but couldn't flee Afghanistan and now you and the rest of your family is hiding at different locations. And, as you say, Taliban has taken over your family home. What forbade you from leaving Afghanistan and why did it get especially bad for you and your family? AAMIR: Yes, we had tried to flee from Kabul since our family, especially my father and my brother, were engaged directly with the native forces as military officers. During the evacuation, we tried to flee from Afghanistan. But, unfortunately, we couldn't do that. Since the Taliban took control of Kabul city, we have been in Panjshir Valley alongside the resistance forces of the Pakistani drones’ interference in Panjshir Valley. The resistance forces defended initially, so we left (Panjshir), we came back to Kabul, and now we are hiding inside Kabul city. Each member of the family is living in separate areas. If one is to be captured by the Taliban, then the rest of us could get informed. And now, living under Taliban is very difficult. It is like a prison, whole country is like prisoners who are inside a jail. If you go on in the city, you may recognise you're living in the city of zombies. So, we are trying somehow to manage. Also read: WION exclusive: Life under Taliban- ‘Living in the land of zombies’ WION: You are a self-proclaimed supporter of the resistance movement and have sought refuge in Kabul after leaving Panjshir for obvious reasons. How did you make that journey and why was it important for you to be part of the resistance? AAMIR: I have been a part of the resistance forces and I have been supporting—and I am still supporting. After Panjshir fell, we made our journey (back) to Kabul city. We climbed up the mountains from Dara district, and then descended to Nejrab district and from there, it was one-and-a-half day walking distance to reach Kabul city. It was around 80 kms. Yes, it was quite difficult and we made the journey. We came to Kabul. Life is quite difficult here. We are all hiding, both men and women of the family, with our relatives and friends. Living in Kabul is horrible; it’s terrifying under this state (of) terrorism. It is very disgusting that we live in such a country and we lost a democracy like we (once) had, unfortunately. WION exclusive | Afghan actor Warina Hussain: I don't blame women who have taken up arms in Afghanistan WION: The female members of your family--and even female friends--must be terrified. How are they getting by? AAMIR: Yes, some of my female family members like my siblings, or my wife or my friends whom I had who were working with the private or governmental organisations, have been restricted to not go to their jobs or to the academic areas like universities or schools. So I think removing female employees or half of the society will lead Afghanistan again to 90s of the Taliban regime. So, mainly the Taliban is keen to establish male-dominance kind of governance in Afghanistan. And this is really sad for open-minded people like us. And, we are losing mostly like a lot of educated people. I think the female or the woman situation in Afghanistan is very bad. And they are in the process of being removed from the society. And their engagement in government sector or private sector--media or wherever--they have been working and now they are restricted not to go. WION: You mentioned your family members have served different embassies over the years and now they are hiding away. How's life for them? AAMIR: My family members work with embassies. All (of) my family members who have been in charge of security and protection of all embassies inside Kabul city for a very long period of time, we couldn't flee from Kabul (and) now we are in a very high risk of dismissal: all the family members. And we are being called by the Taliban, ‘this family (referring to his clan) or that group of people are servants of the ignorant inside of Aghanistan.’ So, this is making our lives extremely difficult and the family members are living under a very, very high mental pressure. Most of the family members, who directly worked with the forces and the embassies, are now in very deep depression and mental health problems. So living under Taliban, with such a background, is making life very difficult in Kabul. WION: You mentioned studying in India for a good number of years. How was that experience for you? What is the main difference between both the countries you observed during your stay? AAMIR: I have done my bachelor's and master's both in India. So the thing I observed in India is that it is a highly diverse country with many religions, many ethnicities and many languages. So they were living side by side with each other. And they're trying to make their nation great. And if I compare, then you will see that Afghanistan is also a highly diverse country. People who are Muslims, who are Hindus, and Jewish are living inside Afghanistan. But, the problem in Afghanistan is, a fundamentalist part or a group of Muslims are coming and taking control of Afghanistan with violence. And...inside Afghanistan, there is an ethnic war. Watch | WION exclusive: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed: I'm grateful to be alive, I was Taliban's target WION: Also, have you received any support or words of encouragement from your Indian friends? AAMIR: Yes, I'm in touch. And my Indian friends are consistently calling me and texting me. And they're asking about how the situation is going on here. They're asking about my life, and about what I'm doing here. And especially my classmates, my teachers, my college friends, and even the friends I used to meet at coffee shops in India. And I'm really thankful to the people of India, especially my friends who have been in touch with me and who have been calling me and texting all the time. From the time Taliban took control till now, every day they are in touch with me, they're asking about me, and they're just requesting me to take care of myself and to be in touch with them. Thank you so much, India. ***The name of the interviewee has been changed and other information withheld for security reasons. Check out the full interaction here:

WION exclusive: Life under Taliban- ‘Living in the land of zombies’

Afghanistan has been under severe stress in the past few months, ever since the Taliban outfit took over from the government. However, the Taliban group had made it clear that they will allow the senior men's cricket team to function without any interference from their end. Thus, the Afghanistan's men's cricket team is set to take part in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, which will commence from October 17 in the UAE. However,&nbsp;things could still go downhill for the Asian side if they play under the Taliban flag.&nbsp;

In case, Afghanistan goes ahead and decides to take part under the Taliban flag, the repercussions could be huge for them as the International Cricket Council (ICC) can ban the team from participating in the marquee event and suspend them as well.

After the removal of executive director Hamid Shinwari by Taliban rulers, the talks doing the rounds are that the men’s cricket team might play under the Taliban flag in the seventh edition of the T20 WC. For the unversed, all 16 participating countries are required to submit the flags under which they will be playing in the coming few days. Hence, all eyes are on Afghanistan. The ICC might set up a meeting soon if the Rashid Khan-starrer&nbsp;participate under the Taliban flag; where a board meeting could then vote to suspend the team.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shahid-afridi-makes-glaring-remark-says-taliban-outfit-have-entered-afghanistan-with-positive-mindset-409575">Shahid Afridi makes glaring remark, says Taliban outfit have entered Afghanistan with 'positive mindset'</a>

At present, some of the Afghanistan players are busy involved in the second and final leg of the IPL 2021 edition, being held in the UAE which will be followed by the T20 WC. Thus, it remains to be seen what action will the ICC take if Afghanistan turn up under the Taliban flag for the showpiece event.

Afghanistan has been under severe stress in the past few months, ever since the Taliban outfit took over from the government. However, the Taliban group had made it clear that they will allow the senior men's cricket team to function without any interference from their end.

Afghanistan has been under severe stress in the past few months, ever since the Taliban outfit took over from the government. However, the Taliban group had made it clear that they will allow the senior men's cricket team to function without any interference from their end. Thus, the Afghanistan's men's cricket team is set to take part in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, which will commence from October 17 in the UAE. However, things could still go downhill for the Asian side if they play under the Taliban flag. In case, Afghanistan goes ahead and decides to take part under the Taliban flag, the repercussions could be huge for them as the International Cricket Council (ICC) can ban the team from participating in the marquee event and suspend them as well. After the removal of executive director Hamid Shinwari by Taliban rulers, the talks doing the rounds are that the men’s cricket team might play under the Taliban flag in the seventh edition of the T20 WC. For the unversed, all 16 participating countries are required to submit the flags under which they will be playing in the coming few days. Hence, all eyes are on Afghanistan. The ICC might set up a meeting soon if the Rashid Khan-starrer participate under the Taliban flag; where a board meeting could then vote to suspend the team. ALSO READ | Shahid Afridi makes glaring remark, says Taliban outfit have entered Afghanistan with 'positive mindset' At present, some of the Afghanistan players are busy involved in the second and final leg of the IPL 2021 edition, being held in the UAE which will be followed by the T20 WC. Thus, it remains to be seen what action will the ICC take if Afghanistan turn up under the Taliban flag for the showpiece event.

T20 World Cup: Afghanistan faces potential ICC ban if they play mega event under Taliban flag: Reports

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate.

Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government.

One, the new cabinet consisted of Taliban members in which 14 of them were on UN Security Council’s terrorism blacklist, including acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund and his both deputies.

Second, the conspicuous absence of a women minister and the dropping of the post for Ministry of Women under the new regime.

According to January 2021 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of Geneva-based international organization of national parliaments, women had occupied only 6.5 per cent of ministerial positions in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power.

Watch

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Around &nbsp;27% of the Afghan parliament was comprised of women, ranking it in line with the United States, where women make up 26.8 per cent of all members of Congress, according to the IPU.

Afghanistan’s share of women legislative members had hovered around 27 per cent since 2005, when the first session of the elected body sat after three decades. Under the 2004 Constitution, at least 68 of the 250 total seats of parliament's lower house are reserved for women, with two seats reserved for women for each of the country’s 34 provinces.

Now, the country joins the ranks of a dozen other countries where there are no women serving in high-ranking positions in government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/aid-workers-staying-in-taliban-ruled-afghanistan-tread-a-tricky-path-411705">Aid workers staying in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan tread a tricky path</a>

They are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brunei, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Yemen, the IPU data suggests.

According to the IPU and UN Women, the absence of women in Afghanistan's government bucks the global trend. Most countries have women in senior government positions, and the number of nations with women as heads of state or in government is at an all-time high.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-taliban-education-minister-says-phd-and-masters-degrees-worthless-mullahs-greatest-without-them-411612">Taliban Education Minister says PhD and Master's degrees worthless, mullahs greatest without them</a>

There are 22 countries that have women as the head of state or government.

Europe is home to the majority of those countries led by women, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Iceland and Norway.

Despite repeated assurances from the Taliban regime that they would respect the rights of the women, and that they would enjoy greater freedom under the new regime, a look at the cabinet members and some their recent controversial statements falls in contradiction to their promises.

Taliban spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi, in an interview to Tolo News, had stated, "A woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can’t carry.”

He added that it is not necessary for a woman to be in the cabinet, adding that women "should give birth".

"Women protesters can't represent all women in Afghanistan," he added.

Hashimi was responding to a series of protest organised by the women in Kabul seeking greater political rights in the government.

The Afghan women were then driven away by the Taliban who used whips and sticks against the protesters in the crackdown on dissent.

Videos and pictures&nbsp;showed the women chanting, "Long live the women of Afghanistan". Some held placards that read: "No government can deny the presence of women" and "I will sing freedom over and over."

The Taliban, according to witnesses, also beat up journalists covering the demonstration, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate. Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government.

On September 8, the Taliban announced the formation of an interim government, declaring Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate. Two things stood out in the selection of key figures heading the government. One, the new cabinet consisted of Taliban members in which 14 of them were on UN Security Council’s terrorism blacklist, including acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund and his both deputies. Second, the conspicuous absence of a women minister and the dropping of the post for Ministry of Women under the new regime. According to January 2021 data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of Geneva-based international organization of national parliaments, women had occupied only 6.5 per cent of ministerial positions in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power. Watch Around 27% of the Afghan parliament was comprised of women, ranking it in line with the United States, where women make up 26.8 per cent of all members of Congress, according to the IPU. Afghanistan’s share of women legislative members had hovered around 27 per cent since 2005, when the first session of the elected body sat after three decades. Under the 2004 Constitution, at least 68 of the 250 total seats of parliament's lower house are reserved for women, with two seats reserved for women for each of the country’s 34 provinces. Now, the country joins the ranks of a dozen other countries where there are no women serving in high-ranking positions in government. Also read | Aid workers staying in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan tread a tricky path They are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brunei, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Yemen, the IPU data suggests. According to the IPU and UN Women, the absence of women in Afghanistan's government bucks the global trend. Most countries have women in senior government positions, and the number of nations with women as heads of state or in government is at an all-time high. Watch | Taliban Education Minister says PhD and Master's degrees worthless, mullahs greatest without them There are 22 countries that have women as the head of state or government. Europe is home to the majority of those countries led by women, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Germany, Iceland and Norway. Despite repeated assurances from the Taliban regime that they would respect the rights of the women, and that they would enjoy greater freedom under the new regime, a look at the cabinet members and some their recent controversial statements falls in contradiction to their promises. Taliban spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi, in an interview to Tolo News, had stated, "A woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can’t carry.” He added that it is not necessary for a woman to be in the cabinet, adding that women "should give birth". "Women protesters can't represent all women in Afghanistan," he added. Hashimi was responding to a series of protest organised by the women in Kabul seeking greater political rights in the government. The Afghan women were then driven away by the Taliban who used whips and sticks against the protesters in the crackdown on dissent. Videos and pictures showed the women chanting, "Long live the women of Afghanistan". Some held placards that read: "No government can deny the presence of women" and "I will sing freedom over and over." The Taliban, according to witnesses, also beat up journalists covering the demonstration, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan among few countries with no women in top government positions: Report

Afghanistan woman cricketer Roya&nbsp;Samim flew to Canada along with her two sisters in the wake of the unrest back home post Taliban's entry. Ever since the Taliban terror group took over the city of Kabul, Afghanistan has been going through a severe unrest and there is a feeling of helplessness among the citizens.

While Roya left her country two days before Taliban entered Kabul, she vented out her frustration and disappointment in leaving her homeland and settling elsewhere. Speaking to The Guardian, she said, "Leaving Afghanistan, it was a sad day for me. I just cried. I really love everything that I had: my job, my cricket, my teammates, my home town, my relatives. Everything that I have, I leave behind. Even now when I remember this day I will cry. The Taliban are against girls studying, so how do they want a girl’s cricket team?"

To her knowledge, Roya feels only her sisters and she has managed to leave the troubled country in the right time. Thus, Roya remains extremely concerned about her teammates and told, "My other teammates who stay in Afghanistan are afraid, they stay in their houses. They are sad, they ask people to please help us. Emotionally and physically, they are not good."

What hurt Roya was no response that she got from the International Cricket Council (ICC). In this regard, she pointed out, "We all emailed the ICC but got no response from them,” says Samim. “Why do they not respond to us, why do they not consider us, even treat us that we don’t exist in the world? After the Taliban came into Kabul, we requested that [the ICC] please save all the girls, we are worried for our teammates. The Afghan Cricket Board [ACB] also said nothing, they said just: ‘Wait.’"

Given the grim situation in Afghanistan, many are living in uncertain times in their own country.

For the unversed, Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, however, made heads turn with his recent remark supporting the Taliban terror group, saying they've entered Taliban with a 'positive intent'.&nbsp;Afridi's&nbsp;statement comes at a time after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed at least 170 people, including 13 US security personnel. Hence, he received criticism from several quarters for his glaring statement.

Afghanistan woman cricketer Roya Samim flew to Canada along with her two sisters in the wake of the unrest back home post Taliban's entry. Ever since the Taliban terror group took over the city of Kabul, Afghanistan has been going through a severe unrest and there is a feeling of helplessness among the citizens.

Afghanistan woman cricketer Roya Samim flew to Canada along with her two sisters in the wake of the unrest back home post Taliban's entry. Ever since the Taliban terror group took over the city of Kabul, Afghanistan has been going through a severe unrest and there is a feeling of helplessness among the citizens. While Roya left her country two days before Taliban entered Kabul, she vented out her frustration and disappointment in leaving her homeland and settling elsewhere. Speaking to The Guardian, she said, "Leaving Afghanistan, it was a sad day for me. I just cried. I really love everything that I had: my job, my cricket, my teammates, my home town, my relatives. Everything that I have, I leave behind. Even now when I remember this day I will cry. The Taliban are against girls studying, so how do they want a girl’s cricket team?" To her knowledge, Roya feels only her sisters and she has managed to leave the troubled country in the right time. Thus, Roya remains extremely concerned about her teammates and told, "My other teammates who stay in Afghanistan are afraid, they stay in their houses. They are sad, they ask people to please help us. Emotionally and physically, they are not good." What hurt Roya was no response that she got from the International Cricket Council (ICC). In this regard, she pointed out, "We all emailed the ICC but got no response from them,” says Samim. “Why do they not respond to us, why do they not consider us, even treat us that we don’t exist in the world? After the Taliban came into Kabul, we requested that [the ICC] please save all the girls, we are worried for our teammates. The Afghan Cricket Board [ACB] also said nothing, they said just: ‘Wait.’" Given the grim situation in Afghanistan, many are living in uncertain times in their own country. For the unversed, Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, however, made heads turn with his recent remark supporting the Taliban terror group, saying they've entered Taliban with a 'positive intent'. Afridi's statement comes at a time after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed at least 170 people, including 13 US security personnel. Hence, he received criticism from several quarters for his glaring statement.

We emailed ICC but got no response, reveals Afghanistan woman cricketer who left Kabul post Taliban's entry

On Tuesday, several youngsters ran to school in Kabul as the Taliban symbolically strolled over the runway of the capital's airport, celebrating their victory following the pullout of US soldiers.&nbsp;

Some of the benefits of the last 20 years were on show, even as the US and its NATO allies left Afghanistan.

Masooda was rushing to get to her private school's fifth grade lesson.

She stated, "I am not terrified of the Taliban. Why should I be?" says the narrator.

Students had been summoned to class four days prior. The Taliban have stated that kids will be separated by gender, but this is already the case in many institutions, with the exception of the early classes.&nbsp;

The Taliban have stated that children will be separated by gender, which is already the case in many Afghan institutions for older kids.

The Taliban's acting higher education minister stated on Sunday that Afghan women would be able to attend university, but that mixed classes would be prohibited under their rule.&nbsp;

"Afghans won't abandon Islam, Afghans won't accept slavery, they won't neglect their national values," Haqqani said. The Taliban have also said that they want good relations with the international community and have promised a more moderate form of Islamic rule than last time. However, the group's public rhetoric has still left Afghans deeply skeptical.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Tuesday, several youngsters ran to school in Kabul as the Taliban symbolically strolled over the runway of the capital's airport, celebrating their victory following the pullout of US soldiers.

On Tuesday, several youngsters ran to school in Kabul as the Taliban symbolically strolled over the runway of the capital's airport, celebrating their victory following the pullout of US soldiers. Some of the benefits of the last 20 years were on show, even as the US and its NATO allies left Afghanistan. Masooda was rushing to get to her private school's fifth grade lesson. She stated, "I am not terrified of the Taliban. Why should I be?" says the narrator. Students had been summoned to class four days prior. The Taliban have stated that kids will be separated by gender, but this is already the case in many institutions, with the exception of the early classes. The Taliban have stated that children will be separated by gender, which is already the case in many Afghan institutions for older kids. The Taliban's acting higher education minister stated on Sunday that Afghan women would be able to attend university, but that mixed classes would be prohibited under their rule. "Afghans won't abandon Islam, Afghans won't accept slavery, they won't neglect their national values," Haqqani said. The Taliban have also said that they want good relations with the international community and have promised a more moderate form of Islamic rule than last time. However, the group's public rhetoric has still left Afghans deeply skeptical. (With inputs from agencies)

Not afraid of Taliban, why should I be: Afghan schoolgirl after US troops' departure 

After being left behind in the country following the evacuation of international forces, an Afghan interpreter believes working with British and American troops was the "biggest mistake of his life."

The 36-year-old, who was given the code name "Steve-O" by American forces, said that he spent 20 months with the US army in 2009 and 13 months with British troops in 2010. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/surrender-or-die-taliban-pin-chilling-letters-on-doors-says-report-409709">Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report</a>

He attempted to enter the airport, like thousands of other desperate Afghans, to be evacuated from the country, but was unable to do so due to the enormous crowds.&nbsp;

Thousands of Afghan nationals who worked alongside the US during Afghanistan's 20-year conflict face death at the hands of the Taliban.

Many Afghans assisted the US and coalition members as translators, drivers, and in other capacities. They've never been more vulnerable than now that the Taliban has taken power.&nbsp;

Since 2001, 300 Afghan interpreters and their families have been killed as a result of their involvement with American forces, according to the non-profit No One Left Behind.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After being left behind in the country following the evacuation of international forces, an Afghan interpreter believes working with British and American troops was the "biggest mistake of his life.

After being left behind in the country following the evacuation of international forces, an Afghan interpreter believes working with British and American troops was the "biggest mistake of his life." The 36-year-old, who was given the code name "Steve-O" by American forces, said that he spent 20 months with the US army in 2009 and 13 months with British troops in 2010. Also read | Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report He attempted to enter the airport, like thousands of other desperate Afghans, to be evacuated from the country, but was unable to do so due to the enormous crowds. Thousands of Afghan nationals who worked alongside the US during Afghanistan's 20-year conflict face death at the hands of the Taliban. Many Afghans assisted the US and coalition members as translators, drivers, and in other capacities. They've never been more vulnerable than now that the Taliban has taken power. Since 2001, 300 Afghan interpreters and their families have been killed as a result of their involvement with American forces, according to the non-profit No One Left Behind. (With inputs from agencies)

Working with UK and US 'biggest mistake of my life': Afghan interpreter left in Kabul

Taliban&nbsp;spokesman&nbsp;Zabihullah&nbsp;Mujahid&nbsp;on Tuesday urged Taliban soldiers to 'treat the people well', adding that they were entitled to 'peace'. His remarks came hours after the last of the United States and allied troops withdrew from Kabul airport.

Al-Emarah, a Taliban-affiliated media outlet published footage of Mujahid's interaction with the&nbsp;Badri 313 unit. In the footage, elite soldiers from the Badri 313 unit were seen standing before Mujahid, decked in modern military fatigues.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-us-troops-leave-afghanistan-taliban-strike-panjshir-killing-7-fighters-409743" hreflang="en">After US troops leave Afghanistan, Taliban strike Panjshir, killing 7 fighters</a>

Speaking in Pashto, he said to the Taliban soldiers&nbsp;"we praise your sacrifices, and this (victory) is due to the blessings of your sacrifices. It is due to the sacrifices of our&nbsp;mujahideen. Due to the sincerity, perseverance, and patience of our elders, we gained our freedom."

He congratulated them and said that he hopes Afghanistan will never again be occupied and will be a free, prosperous country inhabited by Afghans and that there will be an Islamic government in place.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/surrender-or-die-taliban-pin-chilling-letters-on-doors-says-report-409709" hreflang="en">'Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report</a>

Adding a word of caution to his congratulatory message he said "However, I still ask you to be very careful in behaving with people. The nation has suffered a lot, and they have been repressed because of the occupation, have seen problems for 20 years, and can no longer tolerate misbehaviour."

Finally, he noted that ensuring that Afghans are treated properly by the military is important, proclaiming, "we are the servants of the nation", and that the Taliban is not there to dominate the people.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/as-taliban-gain-complete-control-of-afghanistan-kabul-residents-hold-on-to-hope-for-a-peaceful-future-409727" hreflang="en">As Taliban gain complete control of Afghanistan, Kabul residents hold on to hope for a 'peaceful' future</a>

In spite of this the people, however, remain sceptical&nbsp;of the future they face.&nbsp;As the Taliban celebrated&nbsp;the withdrawal of US troops, many Afghan&nbsp;residents of Kabul fear a return to the Taliban's infamous 1996-2001 rule where women and girls especially were treated harshly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A minute before midnight, the last US forces left on C-17 aircraft, ending Washington's embarrassing departure from Afghanistan and bringing an end to a war that ironically left the Islamist militia stronger than it was in 2001.

(With inputs from agencies)

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday urged Taliban soldiers to 'treat the people well', adding that they were entitled to 'peace'. His remarks came hours after the last of the United States and allied troops withdrew from Kabul airport.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday urged Taliban soldiers to 'treat the people well', adding that they were entitled to 'peace'. His remarks came hours after the last of the United States and allied troops withdrew from Kabul airport. Al-Emarah, a Taliban-affiliated media outlet published footage of Mujahid's interaction with the Badri 313 unit. In the footage, elite soldiers from the Badri 313 unit were seen standing before Mujahid, decked in modern military fatigues. Also read | After US troops leave Afghanistan, Taliban strike Panjshir, killing 7 fighters Speaking in Pashto, he said to the Taliban soldiers "we praise your sacrifices, and this (victory) is due to the blessings of your sacrifices. It is due to the sacrifices of our mujahideen. Due to the sincerity, perseverance, and patience of our elders, we gained our freedom." He congratulated them and said that he hopes Afghanistan will never again be occupied and will be a free, prosperous country inhabited by Afghans and that there will be an Islamic government in place. Also read | 'Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report Adding a word of caution to his congratulatory message he said "However, I still ask you to be very careful in behaving with people. The nation has suffered a lot, and they have been repressed because of the occupation, have seen problems for 20 years, and can no longer tolerate misbehaviour." Finally, he noted that ensuring that Afghans are treated properly by the military is important, proclaiming, "we are the servants of the nation", and that the Taliban is not there to dominate the people. Also read | As Taliban gain complete control of Afghanistan, Kabul residents hold on to hope for a 'peaceful' future In spite of this the people, however, remain sceptical of the future they face. As the Taliban celebrated the withdrawal of US troops, many Afghan residents of Kabul fear a return to the Taliban's infamous 1996-2001 rule where women and girls especially were treated harshly. A minute before midnight, the last US forces left on C-17 aircraft, ending Washington's embarrassing departure from Afghanistan and bringing an end to a war that ironically left the Islamist militia stronger than it was in 2001. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban spokesperson asks soldiers to 'treat the people well', citizens however remain sceptic

Tuesday was the first day that the hardline Islamist Taliban have been in total control of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

As the group celebrates the withdrawal of US troops, many Afghan&nbsp;residents of Kabul fear a return of the earlier infamous rule of the Taliban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/surrender-or-die-taliban-pin-chilling-letters-on-doors-says-report-409709" hreflang="en">'Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report</a>

Between 1996-2001, the group was notorious for its treatment of girls and women and a brutal justice system.&nbsp;

Even though the Taliban have repeatedly promised a more tolerant government the Mujahid has continued with the earlier theme.&nbsp;

An Afghan resident says that the government must be inclusive and acceptable for Afghans.&nbsp;

However, some residents were concerned by the Taliban's celebratory gunfire overnight, but many continue to hold hope that now that the US has withdrawn completely the Taliban will stay true to its word and bring about nationwide peace.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explainer-what-is-badri-313-unit-talibans-so-called-special-force-409665" hreflang="en">Explainer: What is Badri 313 unit? Taliban's so-called 'special force'</a>

The United States' longest military conflict ended on Monday night with the withdrawal of its forces from Kabul's airport.&nbsp;In its frenzied airlift, more than 123,000 people fled life under the Taliban.

In a shocking turnaround from the 2001 US force invasion of the country, as soon as the US left the Taliban fighters swept into the airport and fired weapons in jubilation across the city.

"Congratulations to Afghanistan... this victory belongs to us all," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters hours later on the runway of the airport, adding that&nbsp;the Taliban victory was a "lesson for other invaders".

"We want to have good relations with the US and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all," he said.

Mujahid also insisted Taliban security forces would "be gentle and nice".

(With inputs from agencies)

Tuesday was the first day that the hardline Islamist Taliban have been in total control of Afghanistan. As the group celebrates the withdrawal of US troops, many Afghan residents of Kabul fear a return of the earlier infamous rule of the Taliban.

Tuesday was the first day that the hardline Islamist Taliban have been in total control of Afghanistan. As the group celebrates the withdrawal of US troops, many Afghan residents of Kabul fear a return of the earlier infamous rule of the Taliban. Also read | 'Surrender or die': Taliban pin chilling letters on doors, says report Between 1996-2001, the group was notorious for its treatment of girls and women and a brutal justice system. Even though the Taliban have repeatedly promised a more tolerant government the Mujahid has continued with the earlier theme. An Afghan resident says that the government must be inclusive and acceptable for Afghans. However, some residents were concerned by the Taliban's celebratory gunfire overnight, but many continue to hold hope that now that the US has withdrawn completely the Taliban will stay true to its word and bring about nationwide peace. Also read | Explainer: What is Badri 313 unit? Taliban's so-called 'special force' The United States' longest military conflict ended on Monday night with the withdrawal of its forces from Kabul's airport. In its frenzied airlift, more than 123,000 people fled life under the Taliban. In a shocking turnaround from the 2001 US force invasion of the country, as soon as the US left the Taliban fighters swept into the airport and fired weapons in jubilation across the city. "Congratulations to Afghanistan... this victory belongs to us all," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters hours later on the runway of the airport, adding that the Taliban victory was a "lesson for other invaders". "We want to have good relations with the US and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all," he said. Mujahid also insisted Taliban security forces would "be gentle and nice". (With inputs from agencies)

As Taliban gain complete control of Afghanistan, Kabul residents hold on to hope for a 'peaceful' future

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made a glaring remark on Taliban's invasion in Afghanistan. The retired cricketer feels Afghanistan remains in good hands as Taliban have entered with a positive mindset.&nbsp;

After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Afridi also voiced his opinion in favour of the Taliban terror outfit, which he believes has come with a 'positive mindset' to power. In a video clipping tweeted by Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat, Afridi addressed the reporters and told, "Taliban is allowing ladies to work. They are allowing them to participate in politics. They are supporting cricket. And I believe Taliban like cricket a lot."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
❝Taliban have come with a very positive mind. They're allowing ladies to work. And I believe Taliban like cricket a lot❞ Shahid Afridi. He should be Taliban's next PM. <a href="https://t.co/OTV8zDw1yu">pic.twitter.com/OTV8zDw1yu</a>
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) <a href="https://twitter.com/nailainayat/status/1432414021655748608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had confirmed that the country's cricketing activities won't be hindered as they will be no interference from any quarters despite the unrest.

In July, when Taliban took over the Afghanistan government, PM Imran Khan had backed the troops and stated that Talibans are "not some military outfits but normal citizens".&nbsp;

Coming back to Afridi, his statement surely makes heads turn as it has come after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed at least 170 people, including 13 US security personnel. At a time when Afghans are fighting for their lives and are desperate to leave the country after the Taliban seized control, his comments are sure to evoke heavy criticism from many corners.&nbsp;

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made a glaring remark on Taliban's invasion in Afghanistan. The retired cricketer feels Afghanistan remains in good hands as Taliban have entered with a positive mindset.

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made a glaring remark on Taliban's invasion in Afghanistan. The retired cricketer feels Afghanistan remains in good hands as Taliban have entered with a positive mindset. After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Afridi also voiced his opinion in favour of the Taliban terror outfit, which he believes has come with a 'positive mindset' to power. In a video clipping tweeted by Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat, Afridi addressed the reporters and told, "Taliban is allowing ladies to work. They are allowing them to participate in politics. They are supporting cricket. And I believe Taliban like cricket a lot." ❝Taliban have come with a very positive mind. They're allowing ladies to work. And I believe Taliban like cricket a lot❞ Shahid Afridi. He should be Taliban's next PM. pic.twitter.com/OTV8zDw1yu — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) August 30, 2021 × Earlier, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had confirmed that the country's cricketing activities won't be hindered as they will be no interference from any quarters despite the unrest. In July, when Taliban took over the Afghanistan government, PM Imran Khan had backed the troops and stated that Talibans are "not some military outfits but normal citizens". Coming back to Afridi, his statement surely makes heads turn as it has come after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed at least 170 people, including 13 US security personnel. At a time when Afghans are fighting for their lives and are desperate to leave the country after the Taliban seized control, his comments are sure to evoke heavy criticism from many corners.

Shahid Afridi makes glaring remark, says Taliban outfit have entered Afghanistan with 'positive mindset'

Afghan director Sahraa Karimi, who's the head of national cinema body Afghan Film, had escaped last week from Kabul after the Taliban takeover and will now travel to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-venice-film-festival-critics-week-to-start-with-cambodian-sci-fi-film-%E2%80%98karmalink%E2%80%99-399741">Venice Film Festival</a> to speak about the plight of her country and its filmmakers, claim reports.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-watch--wion-exclusive-afghan-pop-star-aryana-sayeed-im-grateful-to-be-alive-i-was-talibans-target-408549">Watch: 'WION exclusive: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed: I'm grateful to be alive, I was Taliban's target'</a>

 
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Karimi revealed that the Venice Film Festival will provide her a platform at this year’s upcoming event to discuss the fate of Afghan filmmakers and the country’s cinema industry in the wake of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yellow-and-smiles-young-afghan-girl-seen-skipping-out-of-happiness-after-leaving-taliban-regime-408818">Taliban takeover</a>.

 
Karimi has attended the Venice Film Festival in 2019. Her drama 'Hava, Maryam, Ayesha' premiered that year in the Horizons sidebar.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tim-burtons-addams-family-inspired-series-reveals-cast-members-408934">Also read: 'Tim Burton's 'Addams Family' inspired series reveals cast members'</a>

 
Karimi was able to get out on August 17, just days after Kabul fell in the hands of Taliban, taking a Turkish flight to Istanbul and then to Kyiv.&nbsp;

 
Since her safe arrival, Karimi has worked to help colleagues and their families escape. "We’ve managed to get some 36 people and their families out," she reportedly said.&nbsp;

 
"One of the actresses of my film (Hava, Maryam, Ayesha) was coming to the airport yesterday when the bombs went off. She got away, she’s safe. But she can’t get out that way now," Karimi added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-eddie-murphy-to-star-opposite-jonah-hill-in-kenya-barriss-netflix-comedy-408940">Also read: 'Eddie Murphy to star opposite Jonah Hill in Kenya Barris's Netflix comedy'</a>

 
“The Taliban have refused to speak to me at all, even though I’m head of Afghan Film. I was kicked out of our (WhatApp) work group then when I asked why they re-instated me. I’ve asked if I’m still in charge, if I should return, but no answer," revealed Karimi to an international news website.

 
From her new place of residence in Europe, Karimi reportedly said she will continue to speak up for those left behind or facing an uncertain future as refugees.

 
"We cannot let the world forget. Or it will be the end of Afghan cinema," concluded the filmmaker.

Afghan director Sahraa Karimi, who's the head of national cinema body Afghan Film, had escaped last week from Kabul after the Taliban takeover and will now travel to the Venice Film Festival to speak about the plight of her country and its filmmakers, claim reports.

Afghan director Sahraa Karimi, who's the head of national cinema body Afghan Film, had escaped last week from Kabul after the Taliban takeover and will now travel to the Venice Film Festival to speak about the plight of her country and its filmmakers, claim reports. Watch: 'WION exclusive: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed: I'm grateful to be alive, I was Taliban's target' Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Karimi revealed that the Venice Film Festival will provide her a platform at this year’s upcoming event to discuss the fate of Afghan filmmakers and the country’s cinema industry in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Karimi has attended the Venice Film Festival in 2019. Her drama 'Hava, Maryam, Ayesha' premiered that year in the Horizons sidebar. Also read: 'Tim Burton's 'Addams Family' inspired series reveals cast members' Karimi was able to get out on August 17, just days after Kabul fell in the hands of Taliban, taking a Turkish flight to Istanbul and then to Kyiv. Since her safe arrival, Karimi has worked to help colleagues and their families escape. "We’ve managed to get some 36 people and their families out," she reportedly said. "One of the actresses of my film (Hava, Maryam, Ayesha) was coming to the airport yesterday when the bombs went off. She got away, she’s safe. But she can’t get out that way now," Karimi added. Also read: 'Eddie Murphy to star opposite Jonah Hill in Kenya Barris's Netflix comedy' “The Taliban have refused to speak to me at all, even though I’m head of Afghan Film. I was kicked out of our (WhatApp) work group then when I asked why they re-instated me. I’ve asked if I’m still in charge, if I should return, but no answer," revealed Karimi to an international news website. From her new place of residence in Europe, Karimi reportedly said she will continue to speak up for those left behind or facing an uncertain future as refugees. "We cannot let the world forget. Or it will be the end of Afghan cinema," concluded the filmmaker.

Venice Film Festival: Afghan film director Sahraa Karimi to talk about her country's plight

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXCLUSIVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXCLUSIVE</a> | "I blame Pakistan for this disaster because that's where the Taliban gets instructions from", says Afghan pop star <a href="https://twitter.com/AryanaSayeed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AryanaSayeed</a> as she recounts her escape from Kabul.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveAfghanWomen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveAfghanWomen</a> <a href="https://t.co/XJLuLwObGg">pic.twitter.com/XJLuLwObGg</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1430822020837613570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 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>

Under current circumstances, living in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-baby-girl-born-aboard-us-military-plane-named-reach-after-aircrafts-code-name-408427">Afghanistan </a>would have been dangerously difficult. So, Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed and her fiancée Hasib Sayed fled the country that's reeling under the atrocious ways of the Taliban regime.

 
In an exclusive interview with WION--now living safely in Amsterdam for the last seven days--<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/i-felt-i-would-die-pop-star-aryana-sayeed-who-fled-afghanistan-recounts-her-escape-from-taliban-408195">Aryana spoke about the most horrifying journey of her life</a>, her anger towards the world for turning their backs on Afghanistan, and claims that for Taliban, women are no different than animals.&nbsp;

 
Excerpts from the video conversation:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-samantha-akkineni-thought-the-family-man-2-would-flop-calls-it-risky-408513">Also read: 'Samantha Akkineni thought 'The Family Man 2' would flop, calls it 'risky'</a>

WION: When you look at those very desperate scenes coming out of the airport at Kabul and you were one of those lucky few ones who managed to get out of Kabul in time. What exactly was going through your mind and how were you feeling, knowing that you were just one of those lucky ones who managed to escape, get out of the country?

 
ARYANA SAYEED: Well, I am obviously very grateful. I am grateful that I made it out alive of Afghanistan along with my fiancée. But, to be honest with you, I am really very worried and concerned about my people back there who are still there and have nowhere to go and they are living a life of misery and fear right now. It's just heartbreaking and even though I have been out of Afghanistan for the past seven days now. But my mind and heart is still there and I do not feel normal at all.&nbsp;

 
WION: Can you narrate to us the ordeal that you had to go through to get out of Afghanistan?&nbsp;

 
ARYANA SAYEED: Well, my fiancée&nbsp;and i were first booked initially on a commercial flight to take off from Afghanistan on 15th of August. But by the 15th of August, we went to the airport at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and our flight was supposed to be at 8 pm. So we went to the airport and it was just packed with people. There were thousands of people and it was really difficult to--first of all--get in.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
 
It would have taken a few hours, and so we get in and waiting to be checked in and at around 5 or 6 pm, we heard gun shots. And we (got to know) that the Taliban was just outside the airport and they were going to come in any minute now. As a result of that, everybody got scared and people started running around--the airport staff and the security ran away and left the people just like that.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

 
The planes were open to public and everybody was just rushing in inside the planes with small children with bags on their shoulders and things like that. So, unfortunately, by the time I got on the plane I see that there's no space at all to sit there and there is no space to stand. It was packed with a thousand people. Also, it needs to be mentioned that the pilots ran away, they were scared as well. They couldn't fly the planes with thousands of people hanging on (to) the plane. There were also individuals who were armed with guns on them. So the plane couldn't take off that day. We had to come off the plane and then come back to the terminal. Inside the terminal we (were) confused and thinking 'what should we do, what should we do?' Because outside there's Taliban.

<blockquote>
 
&nbsp;Also, we had heard the news they they were going to come inside, walk in. So we had to take a risk and get out of the airport somehow. With the help of a few cousins of my fiancée, who came in like angels, took us out of the airport. We had to walk through gunshots and bullets. They were trying to shoot in the air because they were trying to scare people off so that they do not rush inside the airport. So we got away at 10 or 11 in the night and then the next day, we attempted for the airport again which was very risky, especially for me because I am a well-known face in Afghanistan as you know and I have been a women's rights activists. I have been a target (of the Taliban) in the past.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

 
So it was extra challenging for me to make that journey from my house to the airport. But (then) again, we had no choice but to take that risk. So we took two cars the next night and went to the airport, we passed a few Taliban checkpoints. But, luckily, they did not check us. One of them just looked through the window. We had some children with us because we wanted to blend in and look like a normal family. So, they didn't ask anything and let us go. So we get to the airport again--and this is the other side of the airport--where the American military base is and even this side is full of people and it would take you perhaps more than an hour or two to get to the gate where the base is. This is how packed the place was. The children were crying, babies were screaming.

<blockquote>
There was just no Oxygen, no air to breathe. It was an absolute disaster. It was really terrifying for me. I went through one of the most terrifying journeys&nbsp;of my life which I will never forget. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-meet-kirsten-stewart-as-princess-diana-spencer-first-look-out-408511">Also read: 'Meet Kirsten Stewart as Princess Diana: 'Spencer' first look out'</a>

 
WION: Also, Aryana, as an Afghan national who has been living through this crisis and has got her family living back in Afghanistan, who do you hold accountable for the mess that Afghanistan finds itself in now?

 
ARYANA SAYEED: Well, seriously, I don't know who to blame first. But, the first country that I would blame personally is Pakistan because that's exactly where the Taliban's trained, that's where their bases are, that's where they get their funding&nbsp;from and their instructions from. And, obviously, Pakistan is being funded by other countries. So its really like a crazy situation, its like a dirty game, dirty political game that is being played inside of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that's never-ending. The lives of so many people--innocent people--is being sacrificed as a result of a very dirty game that's being played. I blame the entire world now for leaving Afghanistan alone in the hands of Taliban. I cannot actually believe that they would reach a deal with a bunch of people who treat women like animals in Afghanistan, who don't even like women. They don't like humanity, they don't know what humanity means or what it should be. It's really heartbreaking and disappointing for all those innocent people who are being played and have nowhere to go. And they have to suffer, and suffer and suffer.&nbsp;

#EXCLUSIVE | "I blame Pakistan for this disaster because that's where the Taliban gets instructions from", says Afghan pop star @AryanaSayeed as she recounts her escape from Kabul.

#EXCLUSIVE | "I blame Pakistan for this disaster because that's where the Taliban gets instructions from", says Afghan pop star @AryanaSayeed as she recounts her escape from Kabul.#SaveAfghanWomen pic.twitter.com/XJLuLwObGg — WION (@WIONews) August 26, 2021 × Under current circumstances, living in Afghanistan would have been dangerously difficult. So, Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed and her fiancée Hasib Sayed fled the country that's reeling under the atrocious ways of the Taliban regime. In an exclusive interview with WION--now living safely in Amsterdam for the last seven days--Aryana spoke about the most horrifying journey of her life, her anger towards the world for turning their backs on Afghanistan, and claims that for Taliban, women are no different than animals. Excerpts from the video conversation: Also read: 'Samantha Akkineni thought 'The Family Man 2' would flop, calls it 'risky' WION: When you look at those very desperate scenes coming out of the airport at Kabul and you were one of those lucky few ones who managed to get out of Kabul in time. What exactly was going through your mind and how were you feeling, knowing that you were just one of those lucky ones who managed to escape, get out of the country? ARYANA SAYEED: Well, I am obviously very grateful. I am grateful that I made it out alive of Afghanistan along with my fiancée. But, to be honest with you, I am really very worried and concerned about my people back there who are still there and have nowhere to go and they are living a life of misery and fear right now. It's just heartbreaking and even though I have been out of Afghanistan for the past seven days now. But my mind and heart is still there and I do not feel normal at all. WION: Can you narrate to us the ordeal that you had to go through to get out of Afghanistan? ARYANA SAYEED: Well, my fiancée and i were first booked initially on a commercial flight to take off from Afghanistan on 15th of August. But by the 15th of August, we went to the airport at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and our flight was supposed to be at 8 pm. So we went to the airport and it was just packed with people. There were thousands of people and it was really difficult to--first of all--get in. It would have taken a few hours, and so we get in and waiting to be checked in and at around 5 or 6 pm, we heard gun shots. And we (got to know) that the Taliban was just outside the airport and they were going to come in any minute now. As a result of that, everybody got scared and people started running around--the airport staff and the security ran away and left the people just like that. The planes were open to public and everybody was just rushing in inside the planes with small children with bags on their shoulders and things like that. So, unfortunately, by the time I got on the plane I see that there's no space at all to sit there and there is no space to stand. It was packed with a thousand people. Also, it needs to be mentioned that the pilots ran away, they were scared as well. They couldn't fly the planes with thousands of people hanging on (to) the plane. There were also individuals who were armed with guns on them. So the plane couldn't take off that day. We had to come off the plane and then come back to the terminal. Inside the terminal we (were) confused and thinking 'what should we do, what should we do?' Because outside there's Taliban. Also, we had heard the news they they were going to come inside, walk in. So we had to take a risk and get out of the airport somehow. With the help of a few cousins of my fiancée, who came in like angels, took us out of the airport. We had to walk through gunshots and bullets. They were trying to shoot in the air because they were trying to scare people off so that they do not rush inside the airport. So we got away at 10 or 11 in the night and then the next day, we attempted for the airport again which was very risky, especially for me because I am a well-known face in Afghanistan as you know and I have been a women's rights activists. I have been a target (of the Taliban) in the past. So it was extra challenging for me to make that journey from my house to the airport. But (then) again, we had no choice but to take that risk. So we took two cars the next night and went to the airport, we passed a few Taliban checkpoints. But, luckily, they did not check us. One of them just looked through the window. We had some children with us because we wanted to blend in and look like a normal family. So, they didn't ask anything and let us go. So we get to the airport again--and this is the other side of the airport--where the American military base is and even this side is full of people and it would take you perhaps more than an hour or two to get to the gate where the base is. This is how packed the place was. The children were crying, babies were screaming. There was just no Oxygen, no air to breathe. It was an absolute disaster. It was really terrifying for me. I went through one of the most terrifying journeys of my life which I will never forget. It will stay with me for the rest of my life. Also read: 'Meet Kirsten Stewart as Princess Diana: 'Spencer' first look out' WION: Also, Aryana, as an Afghan national who has been living through this crisis and has got her family living back in Afghanistan, who do you hold accountable for the mess that Afghanistan finds itself in now? ARYANA SAYEED: Well, seriously, I don't know who to blame first. But, the first country that I would blame personally is Pakistan because that's exactly where the Taliban's trained, that's where their bases are, that's where they get their funding from and their instructions from. And, obviously, Pakistan is being funded by other countries. So its really like a crazy situation, its like a dirty game, dirty political game that is being played inside of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that's never-ending. The lives of so many people--innocent people--is being sacrificed as a result of a very dirty game that's being played. I blame the entire world now for leaving Afghanistan alone in the hands of Taliban. I cannot actually believe that they would reach a deal with a bunch of people who treat women like animals in Afghanistan, who don't even like women. They don't like humanity, they don't know what humanity means or what it should be. It's really heartbreaking and disappointing for all those innocent people who are being played and have nowhere to go. And they have to suffer, and suffer and suffer.

Watch | WION exclusive: Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed: I'm grateful to be alive, I was Taliban's target

Britain on Wednesday warned the Taliban against attempts to coercively seal off Afghanistan from the rest of the world and urged the militant group to keep its borders open.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said attempts by the Taliban to shut down the country could trigger a "refugee crisis" once Western forces withdrew from Kabul airport on August 31, as migrants make their way to neighbouring countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-agrees-to-let-afghans-leave-after-august-31-german-envoy-markus-potzel-408353" hreflang="en">Taliban agrees to let Afghans leave after August 31: German envoy Markus Potzel</a>

He noted that the Afghan border was "rugged and wide-ranging" and that efforts to isolate the country from the rest of the world would fail.

&nbsp;
<gwofw>
"If the Taliban leadership, as they were saying overnight, want to avoid the brain drain, they're not going to be able to do that by coercively blocking the border," he told Times Radio.

"You'll just see a larger flow of refugees going out and they'll have to be processed. They're not going to be able to avoid the refugee crisis by just a few roadblocks, they're not going to be able to hermetically seal the Afghan border, which is rugged and wide-ranging," he said.

During a series of interviews on Wednesday, Raab also sought to dismiss media reports of him "lounging on the beach" on holiday at the height of the Afghan crisis earlier this month.

He stressed that he had been constantly in virtual contact with the COBRA [Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms] meeting and officials to ensure the airlift of British nationals and supporters from the country. He said that the UK has evacuated more than 9,000 people from Afghanistan since August 15, including 2,000 people in the last 24 hours.

"I think it's going right the way up to the end of the calendar month," Raab said, in reference to efforts to airlift a further 4,000 people ahead of the Taliban's August 31 exit deadline. This also includes a Royal Marine veteran Paul "Pen" Farthing, who has been seeking evacuation with all the animals from his rescue shelter in the region.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/briton-to-evacuate-200-dogs-and-cats-from-his-animal-shelter-in-kabul-408364">Briton to evacuate 200 dogs and cats from his animal shelter in Kabul</a>

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had earlier said he could not prioritise animals over humans in the rescue mission but in a latest tweet he held out some hope for Farthing.

"If he arrives (at Kabul Airport) with his animals we will seek a slot for his plane. If he does not have his animals with him he and his staff can board an RAF (Royal Air Force) flight," said Wallace.

The UK and other allies, including through an emergency G7 meeting on Tuesday, had urged the US to stay beyond August 31 to allow more time for evacuation flights. But the Taliban remains staunchly opposed to any such extension and US President Joe Biden has also said the airlift had to come to an end by then because of the growing risk of an attack by the Islamic State group in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chaired the G7 virtual meet, told reporters following the talks that the West's number one condition for releasing the frozen assets was "safe passage"&nbsp;for people fleeing the country. Last week, the US froze USD 9.5 billion in assets belonging to the central bank of Afghanistan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-chokes-taliban-funds-freezes-95-billion-of-afghan-central-bank-406641">US chokes Taliban funds, freezes $9.5 billion of Afghan central bank</a>

"If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan, then what we're saying is Afghanistan can't lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan can't become a narco state, girls have got to be educated up to the age of 18," said Johnson.

"Those are important things that we value. Those are things we fought for&nbsp;years in Afghanistan, for which people in this country gave their lives. We remain committed to those values and we remain committed to Afghanistan. The No 1 condition we're insisting on is safe passage,"&nbsp;he said.

The G7 joint statement also revolves around the central concern of the safe exit of foreigners and Afghans eligible for evacuation for having supported the US-led NATO operation in the country.&nbsp;
</gwofw>

&nbsp;

Britain on Wednesday warned the Taliban against attempts to coercively seal off Afghanistan from the rest of the world and urged the militant group to keep its borders open.

Britain on Wednesday warned the Taliban against attempts to coercively seal off Afghanistan from the rest of the world and urged the militant group to keep its borders open. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said attempts by the Taliban to shut down the country could trigger a "refugee crisis" once Western forces withdrew from Kabul airport on August 31, as migrants make their way to neighbouring countries. Also read | Taliban agrees to let Afghans leave after August 31: German envoy Markus Potzel He noted that the Afghan border was "rugged and wide-ranging" and that efforts to isolate the country from the rest of the world would fail. "If the Taliban leadership, as they were saying overnight, want to avoid the brain drain, they're not going to be able to do that by coercively blocking the border," he told Times Radio. "You'll just see a larger flow of refugees going out and they'll have to be processed. They're not going to be able to avoid the refugee crisis by just a few roadblocks, they're not going to be able to hermetically seal the Afghan border, which is rugged and wide-ranging," he said. During a series of interviews on Wednesday, Raab also sought to dismiss media reports of him "lounging on the beach" on holiday at the height of the Afghan crisis earlier this month. He stressed that he had been constantly in virtual contact with the COBRA [Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms] meeting and officials to ensure the airlift of British nationals and supporters from the country. He said that the UK has evacuated more than 9,000 people from Afghanistan since August 15, including 2,000 people in the last 24 hours. "I think it's going right the way up to the end of the calendar month," Raab said, in reference to efforts to airlift a further 4,000 people ahead of the Taliban's August 31 exit deadline. This also includes a Royal Marine veteran Paul "Pen" Farthing, who has been seeking evacuation with all the animals from his rescue shelter in the region. Also read | Briton to evacuate 200 dogs and cats from his animal shelter in Kabul Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had earlier said he could not prioritise animals over humans in the rescue mission but in a latest tweet he held out some hope for Farthing. "If he arrives (at Kabul Airport) with his animals we will seek a slot for his plane. If he does not have his animals with him he and his staff can board an RAF (Royal Air Force) flight," said Wallace. The UK and other allies, including through an emergency G7 meeting on Tuesday, had urged the US to stay beyond August 31 to allow more time for evacuation flights. But the Taliban remains staunchly opposed to any such extension and US President Joe Biden has also said the airlift had to come to an end by then because of the growing risk of an attack by the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chaired the G7 virtual meet, told reporters following the talks that the West's number one condition for releasing the frozen assets was "safe passage" for people fleeing the country. Last week, the US froze USD 9.5 billion in assets belonging to the central bank of Afghanistan. Also read | US chokes Taliban funds, freezes $9.5 billion of Afghan central bank "If those huge funds are going to be unfrozen eventually for use by the government and people of Afghanistan, then what we're saying is Afghanistan can't lurch back into becoming a breeding ground of terror, Afghanistan can't become a narco state, girls have got to be educated up to the age of 18," said Johnson. "Those are important things that we value. Those are things we fought for years in Afghanistan, for which people in this country gave their lives. We remain committed to those values and we remain committed to Afghanistan. The No 1 condition we're insisting on is safe passage," he said. The G7 joint statement also revolves around the central concern of the safe exit of foreigners and Afghans eligible for evacuation for having supported the US-led NATO operation in the country.

UK warns Taliban against sealing Afghanistan off from the world

Taking aim at US president Joe Biden's Afghan policy, former President Donald Trump expressed concern that thousands of terrorists might have been flown out from Afghanistan as part of the evacuation process.

"Biden surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the military before our citizens," Trump said in a statement on Tuesday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/joe-biden-says-us-on-pace-to-end-afghan-mission-by-august-31-408146" hreflang="en">Joe Biden says US 'on pace' to end Afghan mission by August 31</a>

"Now we are learning that out of the 26,000 people who have been evacuated, only 4,000 are Americans. You can be sure, the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didn't allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights."

"Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighbourhoods around the world. What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We don't know!", He said.

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mike Waltz, a former veteran of Afghanistan, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, criticizing Biden's blatant disregard for the advice of military and intelligence advisors.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-change-to-august-31-withdrawal-deadline-pentagons-john-kirby-408091" hreflang="en">'No change' to August 31 withdrawal deadline: Pentagon’s John Kirby</a>

He alleges that President Biden, ignored advice on the nature and speed of the Taliban offensive and that he failed to present a coherent counterterrorism or evacuation plan to the American people, and has done harm to US credibility by abandoning the US's Afghan allies.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik cosponsored the resolution.

"President Biden has embarrassed the United States on the world stage and created the worst foreign policy blunder in our modern history," Waltz said.

Waltz said that Biden has embarrassed the United States on the world stage and has made the worst foreign policy blunder in US modern history.

As per Waltz, in order to seek a headline that he would withdraw US troops prior to the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Biden created a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-taliban-evade-wions-question-on-secret-meeting-between-mullah-baradar-and-cia-chief-408084" hreflang="en">Watch | Taliban evade WION’s question on secret meeting between Mullah Baradar and CIA chief</a>

'Now, we will have shamefully given away the freedoms of Afghans, our military equipment and infrastructure, and countless other resources to the hands of Taliban terrorists because of the President's cluelessness and stubbornness,' Waltz alleged.

'Additionally, it is growing more likely by the day we will have broken our promise to thousands of Afghan allies who stood should-to-shoulder with our troops on the battlefield that have now been handed a death sentence for our failure to safely evacuate them in a timely fashion," he said.

Waltz also said that the intelligence community has repeatedly warned that Al Qaeda 3.0 will return as the Taliban have shown no signs of cutting ties with the September 11 attack perpetrators.&nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Taking aim at US president Joe Biden's Afghan policy, former President Donald Trump expressed concern that thousands of terrorists might have been flown out from Afghanistan as part of the evacuation process.

Taking aim at US president Joe Biden's Afghan policy, former President Donald Trump expressed concern that thousands of terrorists might have been flown out from Afghanistan as part of the evacuation process. "Biden surrendered Afghanistan to terrorists and left thousands of Americans for dead by pulling out the military before our citizens," Trump said in a statement on Tuesday. Also read | Joe Biden says US 'on pace' to end Afghan mission by August 31 "Now we are learning that out of the 26,000 people who have been evacuated, only 4,000 are Americans. You can be sure, the Taliban, who are now in complete control, didn't allow the best and brightest to board these evacuation flights." "Instead, we can only imagine how many thousands of terrorists have been airlifted out of Afghanistan and into neighbourhoods around the world. What a terrible failure. NO VETTING. How many terrorists will Joe Biden bring to America? We don't know!", He said. Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Mike Waltz, a former veteran of Afghanistan, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, criticizing Biden's blatant disregard for the advice of military and intelligence advisors. Also read | 'No change' to August 31 withdrawal deadline: Pentagon’s John Kirby He alleges that President Biden, ignored advice on the nature and speed of the Taliban offensive and that he failed to present a coherent counterterrorism or evacuation plan to the American people, and has done harm to US credibility by abandoning the US's Afghan allies. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik cosponsored the resolution. "President Biden has embarrassed the United States on the world stage and created the worst foreign policy blunder in our modern history," Waltz said. Waltz said that Biden has embarrassed the United States on the world stage and has made the worst foreign policy blunder in US modern history. As per Waltz, in order to seek a headline that he would withdraw US troops prior to the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Biden created a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Also read | Watch | Taliban evade WION’s question on secret meeting between Mullah Baradar and CIA chief 'Now, we will have shamefully given away the freedoms of Afghans, our military equipment and infrastructure, and countless other resources to the hands of Taliban terrorists because of the President's cluelessness and stubbornness,' Waltz alleged. 'Additionally, it is growing more likely by the day we will have broken our promise to thousands of Afghan allies who stood should-to-shoulder with our troops on the battlefield that have now been handed a death sentence for our failure to safely evacuate them in a timely fashion," he said. Waltz also said that the intelligence community has repeatedly warned that Al Qaeda 3.0 will return as the Taliban have shown no signs of cutting ties with the September 11 attack perpetrators. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump takes aim at Biden's Afghan policy, alleges thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents.

The report, provided by the UN's threat-assessment consultants and seen by AFP - says the group has "priority lists" of individuals it wants to arrest.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-facebook-twitter-and-linkedin-secure-users-accounts-amid-taliban-takeover-407020">Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover</a></h2>

Most at risk are people who had central roles in the Afghan military, police and intelligence units, according to the document.

The Taliban have been conducting "targeted&nbsp;door-to-door&nbsp;visits" of individuals they want to apprehend and their family members, the report says.

It adds that militants are also screening individuals on the way to Kabul airport and have set up checkpoints in major cities, including the capital and Jalalabad.

The document, dated Wednesday, was written by the Norwegian Center for Global Analyses, an organisation that provides intelligence to UN agencies.

"They are targeting the families of those who refuse to give themselves up, and prosecuting and punishing their families 'according to Sharia law,'" Christian Nellemann, the group's executive director, told AFP.

"We expect both individuals previously working with NATO/US forces and their allies, alongside with their family members to be exposed to torture and executions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/heartbreaking-desperate-afghan-mothers-throw-children-over-kabul-airport-fence-in-bid-to-escape-taliban-407089">Heartbreaking: Desperate Afghan mothers throw children over Kabul airport fence in bid to escape Taliban</a>

"This will further jeopardize western intelligence services, their networks, methods and ability to counter both the Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist threats ahead," he added.

'Recruiting' informers&nbsp;

The report says the militants are "rapidly recruiting" new informers to collaborate with the Taliban regime and are expanding their lists of targets by contacting mosques and money brokers.

It reprints a letter, dated August 16, from the Taliban to an individual who worked in counterterrorism in the Afghan government.

The letter asks the person to report to Taliban officials to "provide information about the nature of your work and relationship with the British and Americans."

"If you do not report to the commission, your family members will be arrested instead, and you are responsible for this. You and your family members will be treated based on Sharia law," it says.

The Norwegian Center for Global Analyses also warned the Taliban may target or arrest remaining Westerners or other foreign personnel, including medical workers if they criticise the militants.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-call-on-afghanistans-imams-to-urge-unity-as-protests-spread-to-kabul-407074" hreflang="en">Taliban call on Afghanistan's imams to urge unity as protests spread to Kabul</a>

A UN spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the document.

The Taliban have launched a public relations blitz since sweeping back into power on Sunday, completing a stunning rout of government forces as the United States and other foreign troops withdrew following a 20-year occupation.

Among promises such as rights for women and an inclusive government, the militants have also pledged full amnesty for all who worked with the Western-backed elected Afghan government.

But Afghans have not forgotten the Taliban's ultra-conservative Islamic regime of 1996-2001, when brutal punishments, such as stoning to death for adultery, were imposed.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country since the Taliban takeover, sparking chaos at Kabul airport.

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents.

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents. The report, provided by the UN's threat-assessment consultants and seen by AFP - says the group has "priority lists" of individuals it wants to arrest. Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover Most at risk are people who had central roles in the Afghan military, police and intelligence units, according to the document. The Taliban have been conducting "targeted door-to-door visits" of individuals they want to apprehend and their family members, the report says. It adds that militants are also screening individuals on the way to Kabul airport and have set up checkpoints in major cities, including the capital and Jalalabad. The document, dated Wednesday, was written by the Norwegian Center for Global Analyses, an organisation that provides intelligence to UN agencies. "They are targeting the families of those who refuse to give themselves up, and prosecuting and punishing their families 'according to Sharia law,'" Christian Nellemann, the group's executive director, told AFP. "We expect both individuals previously working with NATO/US forces and their allies, alongside with their family members to be exposed to torture and executions. Also read | Heartbreaking: Desperate Afghan mothers throw children over Kabul airport fence in bid to escape Taliban "This will further jeopardize western intelligence services, their networks, methods and ability to counter both the Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist threats ahead," he added. 'Recruiting' informers The report says the militants are "rapidly recruiting" new informers to collaborate with the Taliban regime and are expanding their lists of targets by contacting mosques and money brokers. It reprints a letter, dated August 16, from the Taliban to an individual who worked in counterterrorism in the Afghan government. The letter asks the person to report to Taliban officials to "provide information about the nature of your work and relationship with the British and Americans." "If you do not report to the commission, your family members will be arrested instead, and you are responsible for this. You and your family members will be treated based on Sharia law," it says. The Norwegian Center for Global Analyses also warned the Taliban may target or arrest remaining Westerners or other foreign personnel, including medical workers if they criticise the militants. Also read | Taliban call on Afghanistan's imams to urge unity as protests spread to Kabul A UN spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the document. The Taliban have launched a public relations blitz since sweeping back into power on Sunday, completing a stunning rout of government forces as the United States and other foreign troops withdrew following a 20-year occupation. Among promises such as rights for women and an inclusive government, the militants have also pledged full amnesty for all who worked with the Western-backed elected Afghan government. But Afghans have not forgotten the Taliban's ultra-conservative Islamic regime of 1996-2001, when brutal punishments, such as stoning to death for adultery, were imposed. Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country since the Taliban takeover, sparking chaos at Kabul airport.

Taliban 'intensifying' door-to-door search for Afghans who helped US, claims UN document

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions.

The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports.

After the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, four Indian consulates in Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Jalalabad were shuttered.

The Indian Embassy staffs were evacuated by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday, carrying back 120 Indians, including ITBP personnel, from the Kabul airport, despite the dangerous situation in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The evacuation of surviving Indian employees was also reviewed during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed that all necessary efforts be taken to return them.&nbsp;

The Taliban leadership claimed earlier this week that the fighters have been instructed not to enter vacant diplomatic buildings of foreign countries or to manhandle their vehicles.

The newest allegations of raids against Indian missions, on the other hand, contradict the Taliban commanders' statements.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions. The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports.

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions. The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports. After the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, four Indian consulates in Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Jalalabad were shuttered. The Indian Embassy staffs were evacuated by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday, carrying back 120 Indians, including ITBP personnel, from the Kabul airport, despite the dangerous situation in Afghanistan. The evacuation of surviving Indian employees was also reviewed during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed that all necessary efforts be taken to return them. The Taliban leadership claimed earlier this week that the fighters have been instructed not to enter vacant diplomatic buildings of foreign countries or to manhandle their vehicles. The newest allegations of raids against Indian missions, on the other hand, contradict the Taliban commanders' statements. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban broke into Indian consulates, took away documents and parked vehicles