Afghans describe life under Taliban control: 'People are devastated'

The Taliban celebrated their first day with full fire control of Afghanistan, minutes after the last US military plane took off from Kabul airport.

They now control more territory than in the fall of 2001, before US troops intervened. "The world must have learned the lesson and this is the satisfying moment of victory," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a live broadcast.

Now they have to work on how to govern a country that is desperately poor, facing a drought and having lost a large number of the educated elite overnight. Taliban commanders have accepted the next challenge, and even managed to secretly ask some prominent Afghans to join a future government before taking control of Kabul.

How is life now? Here is what some people say about the Guardian (their names have been changed).

Arifa Ahmadi started her first day under full Taliban control by burning jeans and any other clothes the Taliban are likely to disapprove of. Arifa is part of a generation that has grown over the past 20 years and enjoyed freedom, education and employment under a Western-backed government - but lost its job after the Taliban invaded the country.

"I tried hard to find a job at a customs office in Farah and got the job. I celebrated it with my friends. I invited them home. We were very happy. But I lost my job only after three weeks "Many women were asked by the Taliban to leave the office. As I looked at the situation, I did not even try to return."

She added: "A man with a long beard is sitting in my chair now." Arifa left Farah after the Taliban invaded the city and now lives in Kabul, hoping to leave the country through a foreign company.

"I have been crying since morning. My brother came out and bought me a burqa, I was burning my jeans today. I cried and burned them, burning my hopes with them. Nothing will make me happier. I'm just waiting for my death, I do not want this life anymore [...] Everything ended for me this morning and also for all the people in town. You can see that no one laughs outside. "There is an absolute sense of depression throughout the city."

Nesar Karimi, an engineer in Kabul said:

“E fillova ditën time të parë nën sundimin e plotë të talebanëve në hyrje të një banke në zonën Shahr-e-Naw të Kabulit. Shkova atje rreth orës 6 të mëngjesit, para se të hapet banka, por shumë njerëz tashmë ishin në radhë. Qëndrova atje deri në 12, por mbyllën ATM-në, thanë se nuk kishin para dhe erdha në shtëpi pa asgjë. Qindra njerëz ishin atje. Talebanët po rrihnin njerëzit me tuba, unë doja të qëndroja, por ishte rrëmujë dhe u ktheva në shtëpi. Ishte dita ime e dytë duke u përpjekur të tërhiqja disa para, por nuk munda.”

"Kam jetuar këtu në Kabul për pjesën më të madhe të jetës sime, por kurrë nuk e kisha parë Kabulin në këtë mënyrë," shtoi ai. “Është një ndjesi sikur nuk ka më ndjenja rrugëve. Njerëzit humbën të gjitha shqisat e tyre, atyre nuk u intereson asgjë, mua nuk më intereson asgjë, brezi im humbi gjithçka brenda disa orëve. Njerëzit janë shkatërruar.”

Jabar Rahmani, një banor i qytetit Mazar-i-Sharif tha:

“Vendosa të rris mjekrën dhe të vesh rroba tradicionale afgane si masa e parë parandaluese për të shmangur kërcënimin e tyre. Duhet ta bëj për të qëndruar gjallë. Distanca midis jetës dhe vdekjes është shumë e ngushtë nën kontrollin e këtyre njerëzve. Mjekrat ose veshjet mund të jenë një gjë shumë e thjeshtë për njerëzit në pjesë të tjera të botës, por këtu është një luftë kërcënuese për jetën.”

Reshad Sharifi, a resident of Herat, said Taliban fighters stopped him from wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts as he wanted to train.

"I usually get up early in the morning to go to a nearby mountain in Herat. I stopped for a few days and today was my first day of walking and running. I always wear shorts and a blouse. I did the same thing this morning, "But they stopped me pointing my gun. They told me, 'Come back, dress like a Muslim and go out again.' I lost hope for life."