Life under the Taliban.

While hindsight has bestowed upon the black-turbaned rulers the ominous aura of global jihadists, at the time that they took over Kabul — in September 1996 — the majority of the capital’s residents hailed them as saviors. “We used to get up every morning and call around to friends and relatives, see who was still alive”. Abdul Rashid Dostum held the north of the country, going so far as to issue his own currency. Ismail Khan had an iron grip on the west. The Taliban had been in control in the south since 1994, when they chased out the gunmen who had terrorized the population with a direct and vicious violence.
“We wanted an end to the warlords, and we wanted national unity,” recalled Nasimi. “The Taliban gave us that.” Of course, the Taliban also imposed a set of rules and restrictions that soon set the population’s teeth on edge: no music, no kite-flying, no shaving of beards. Women were largely restricted to the home, and most girls were barred from school. Universities continued to function, although girls were absent from all faculties except medicine. But the study of Islamic theology was de rigueur in all classes, even if the subject under discussion was English language or chemistry.
For women, a burqa — an all-enveloping nylon shroud that covers everything, including the face, was all but obligatory. But other items of a woman’s wardrobe were left alone, despite the widespread misapprehension in the West that white shoes were banned because white was the color of the Taliban flag.

“I was very comfortable under the Taliban,” said Dr. Malalai, a doctor in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh province. “I worked part-time, but made enough money for my needs. I could go anywhere, security was not a problem. We did not fear robbery, rape, murder. But now, I work full time and do not make enough money. And if someone offered me a job in one of the outlying districts, I would never go, because of poor security.”

“The system was still in place,” said Nasimi. “Drinking, gambling, affairs — it was all still going on.”
According to numerous reports from all over the country, a lively society existed just under the surface, carrying on the more secular traditions of Afghan society.

No matter how bad things seem at present, with a stalled economy, deteriorating security, an unpopular government and an increasingly burdensome foreign presence, people are not willing to go back.
“We were dead under the Taliban,” said a radio manager from Helmand. “All we thought of was our next meal. When the new government came, people had hope, they began to live again.”

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 781