In the villages that once bore the brunt of Afghanistan's frontline fighting, the Taliban victory has broken a cycle of airstrikes, gun battles and funerals.
AFP | Wakil KOHSAR
"I would give everything for the Taliban," said 72-year-old Maky as she prepared cotton fibre in her hardened hands with a group of other women in Dashtan, a remote farming settlement in northern Balkh province. "The men and women of this village are Taliban supporters, young and old," he said, cross-legged in a neighbour's home."Now I'm satisfied. Now there are no infidels," he told AFP, adding that he had been beaten by a local pro-government militia just before the takeover.
But corruption and vote-rigging allegations plagued government institutions, justice was slow and ineffective, and foreign troops were tainted by accusations of colluding with warlords, abusing Afghans and disrespecting local customs. At another plantation nearby, 26-year-old Farima is among dozens of women and children harvesting cotton in the sunshine, wrapped up warmly against the wind.With the cotton-picking season ending, she is now working on the land each day with her daughters Asma, 10, and Husna, 9, and son Barktula, aged just three.AFP | Wakil KOHSAR
Afghanistan is now home to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with more than half of Afghans expected to suffer"acute food insecurity" this winter, as a severe drought devastates the country.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CIVIL WAR: ‘Nasty cocktail’: Addis Ababa looks about to fallFrantic peace efforts are being rebuffed by both sides in the year-long civil war.
Read more »
Ascendis activist shareholders get board representationMove at health and wellness group seen as victory for ordinary investors
Read more »
Sundowns ladies kickoff Women’s Champions League with a bangSundowns ladies striker Melinda Kgadiete took her fine form to the continent with her solitary goal earning Sundowns an important 1-0 victory.
Read more »
Four women lured to their death in Afghanistan with promise of evacuationA rights group source said the women received a call that they thought was an invitation to join an evacuation flight and were picked up by a car, only to be found dead later.
Read more »
New Zealand limit Afghanistan to 124-8 in key T20 clashTrent Boult led a disciplined New Zealand attack to help restrict Afghanistan to 124 for eight in the Kiwis' bid to seal a semi-final spot in the T...
Read more »
Baxter after Chiefs victory: ‘I have to say it was deserved’Soweto derby goes the way of Amakhosi
Read more »