A New Lease of Life

The Taliban's rule ends in Kabul

A New Lease of Life Taliban rules has ended in Afghanistan, and Kabul is celebrating - mostly. Despite having far more personal freedom, they lack a ruling government, and the power vacuum is worrying.
The residents of Kabul seem to be taking to their new-found freedom with amazing ease. Kites fly high in the skies, and queues form outside cinemas showing scratchy re-runs of old Mujaheddin propaganda flicks. Inside their home, an Afghan family talk of their reactions to the end of Taliban rule. "I am happy because there was no education, no entertainment or higher training opportunities for our children", tells Rona, mother to three daughters. Even those who were formerly connected with the Taliban seem to have bounced back. Hanafi, a former Afghan TV cameraman who worked as an official translator for the Taliban, is a reformed man; having shed his Taliban-style garb and beard, he welcomes the TV crews he used to stop from filming. But despite all this, there is a certain apprehension in the air, as the Afghan people wait to hear what future will be decided for them in Bonn. The words of one Afghan, Abdul Khurram, reflect the sentiments of an entire people: "I am nervous. We do not have a government yet. I am hopeful, but I'm not sure yet."

Produced by ABC Australia
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