A mood of shocked fear prevailed among many former government employees and civil rights activists in the city. They were caught completely by surprise
Kabul’s former ‘Green Zone’ was abandoned as diplomats fled the Afghan Capital. Some motorists lifted security barriers themselves as they had no choice but to stop and get out of their cars, before driving through, since the police and security contractors who guarded the embassies in the Wazir Akbar Khan district were now gone.
Foreign missions were moved to the airport, as Taliban patrols came in control of the fortified zone of concrete blast walls and checkpoints known as the Green Zone.
A mood of shocked fear prevailed among many former government employees and civil rights activists in the city, caught completely by surprise. The flight of President Ashraf Ghani further worsened the situation.
The Talibans have said they will not harm former government workers and that Afghans will be soon allowed to resume daily activities. Also, nothing will be done to scare civilians.
Shopkeepers here are now sceptical about foreigners, international people visiting Kabul, at least for a long time
Many people were expecting a return to the customs of the previous period of Taliban rule when men were not permitted to trim their beards and women were required to wear the burqa in public.
In Kabul’s Chicken Street, shops selling carpets, handicrafts and jewellery, as well as small cafes, were closed.
Shopkeepers here are now sceptical about foreigners, international people visiting Kabul, at least for a long time.