Taliban-Lite

"On Saturday evening as we waited, government security forces and pro-government militias amassed on the approaches to the city. The calm -- the limbo of waiting -- was eerie."

"By 7:30 p.m., the triumphant roar of Taliban motorbikes was heard. Our hearts broke. By 8 p.m., the Afghan tricolour flag was being lowered in the white glare of the victors' headlamps, and the haunting white-and-black banner of the Taliban was hoisted by a stocky fighter in Taliban garb; a white flag for "purity", with black Arabic script. It reads, "I bear witness that none deserves worship except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God."                                   "We know the history. My parents lived it in the late '90s. What, I wondered, on Saturday night, do the Taliban know of God or Islam? No bullet was fired. Confronted with a legendary enemy, the national security forces -- a fraction of the size suggested by official figures -- lost faith in the resolve and strategy of our president and leaders."                                                                                                    Sayed Ahmad Sadat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan

 

And thus fell the fourth-largest city in Afghanistan, considered of great strategic importance as "the northern stronghold", where President Ashraf Ghani only a few days previously had flown in to confer with local government officials to urge them of the dire necessity for the government's survival, of a firm rebuff of Taliban forces when they arrive. And arrive they did, with government security forces and pro-government militias awaiting them. And then, as the Taliban approached, the forces and militias melted away into the night.

A formidable reputation for inhumane violence will do that kind of thing; inspire trepidation and fear in the minds of those determined to counter and resist, but when faced with the moment, transfixed with terror and incapable of responding. It wouldn't much have helped that members of the national police and the military had been without pay, forced to scrounge for their own food and had no uniforms. Worse, their reliance on the presence of U.S. airpower had been yanked out from under. The flag that came down, had the very same inscription as the Taliban flag honouring Islam, not abusing it.

The city was enveloped in a bleak, black silence of fearful uncertainty; people remained in their homes, doors securely locked, quietly watching television in darkened rooms, or viewing their cellphones, agonized with tension. In the morning, clothing normally worn was discarded in favour of traditional garb; avoiding undue attention was suddenly a grave necessity. News arrived of the fall of Jalalabad, and then of Kabul. The president had fled, reportedly taking with him $169 million, no paltry sum. To deprive the Taliban of cash, while they took possession of all the American military equipment?

In the streets, closed shops. Including banks. People planned to withdraw their savings but were forestalled. Heavily armed Taliban patrolled the streets, posing occasionally for photographs, wearing long beards, in proud possession of Kalashnikovs and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Little boys emerging from their houses for a breath of air, stared fascinated at the Taliban soldiers. 

The warning comes despite the Taliban saying they would not carry out revenge on Afghans   EPA

With borders closed, food and other supplies became scarce.Taliban officials advised the population they will be expected to provide Taliban members with three meals daily; to organize, cook and pay to serve the meals even as they struggle for food for their own families. Flour has increased from 1,450 to 2,200 Afghani in the shortages.

 

 Girls and women remain indoors. It is known that Taliban plan to go door-to-door collecting names of all females between ages 12 and 42; documenting them to be "married" to Taliban fighters as the "gifts of holy war". They and their families are transfixed with the terror of knowing they will be abducted from their homes, and raped, becoming Taliban 'wives'. 

 

Door-to-door searches also target any suspected Afghans who had worked as interpreters or in any other capacity giving assistance to the Western forces. Along with a search for government officials and workers. Another promise solemnly made by the Taliban leadership of no reprisals, that no revenge-motivated assaults on anyone, much less loss of life would be advanced.

The local mosques' mullahs denounce the Taliban. Music videos are no longer seen on television channels. Female presenters and news anchors replaced by bearded Taliban anchormen. The press, the Taliban tells the world, is to remain free with the expectation that journalists do nothing "un-Islamic", and no reporting "against national interests" takes place, or insulting "the spirit of Islam".

Just to make things abundantly clear, local Afghan reporters are beaten, houses of journalists raided. The Taliban has announced a new Media Commission, a Culture & Religious Commission and a new Taliban Court. Plans are afoot for an appeal on humanitarian grounds for international financial support to rebuild any parts of the country that have been destroyed in 'conflict'. Sharia-lite will prevail for a limited time as a goodwill gesture to the concerned global community. 

And the world will become more comfortable with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. All will live in peace and harmony. Even though a civil war is in the offing with former members of the Northern Alliance gathering in the mountains to build strength and support among Afghans who will not live, under any circumstances, under the totalitarian thumb of the Taliban.

In Afghanistan, women who comprise nearly 50 per cent of the total population have been living in dread for the return of the Taliban. (Photo: Reuters)