Jakarta –
The atmosphere on the streets of the Afghan capital has changed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, cleaner and safer, but also bleaker.
Under the leadership of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Kabul City government launched an ambitious program to improve life in this city of seven million people. This was accomplished through aggressive tax collection to fund road repairs, public monuments, and cleanup campaigns.
They also mercilessly clear the streets of drug addicts, and arrest beggars and distinguish between “professional” beggars and those who are truly in need.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
“Since the collapse of the republican government and the takeover by the Islamic Emirate, we have seen many changes,” said Zia Wali, 43, a longtime resident of Kabul. “One of the biggest changes is that we feel safe now,” he told the news agency AFP.
Noisy, polluted and filled with security guards, this centuries-old city is squeezed into a basin surrounded by mountains and cut by the Kabul River.
For 20 years under Western-backed rule, parts of the city were heavily guarded. To this day, many parts of Kabul remain heavily guarded, with access restricted by barriers, barbed wire and security guards manning corners.
Kabul is improving under the Taliban
However, in the last two years, a number of roads blocked during the conflict have been reopened. “Those who were the cause of insecurity are now responsible for security,” said Amin Karim, who is an architect and former presidential adviser.
Nematullah Barakzai, cultural affairs advisor for Kabul municipality, said that more than 100 roads that were closed to the public have reopened since 2021.
In the middle of the crossroads in the city center, there is an area called the Green Zone. Barakzai pointed to a street now open to traffic after the home of the former president’s daughter was demolished. This Green Zone used to be the embassy area, and where foreigners and the Afghan elite lived.
More than 100 kilometers of new roads have been built or repaved, grass is thriving in Shahr-e Naw’s rebuilt central park, a stark contrast to the surrounding drought, and greenhouses are filled with a million flowers ready to be planted in spring.
Small-scale crime is reduced
But the security threat has not completely disappeared, and checkpoints once set up to counter Taliban attacks still serve to thwart attacks by ISIS jihadists. In addition to checkpoints, there are also around 62,000 surveillance cameras, according to the interior ministry.
Such tight security controls have helped reduce small-scale crimes, and Khalilullah, a 21-year-old apple seller, said he now feels safe going to and from work “even late at night,” he said. But traffic jams and pollution remain complex challenges for city governments.
Taliban authorities have also solicited private sector investment to repair 24 road roundabouts in an effort to bring order to chaotic traffic. “Everything will be resolved through the city’s 10-year strategic vision,” said Barakzai confidently.
Safe, but the face of the city is bleaker
Although gray smog still often blankets Kabul’s air, especially in winter, the overall atmosphere of the city has somehow become more gloomy.
“Previously, on Thursday afternoons and Fridays until late at night, the city center was often busy with people,” said Karim, who is a former presidential advisor. “The restaurants were full, music was everywhere, young people were walking around, going to concerts,” he added.
However, recently after night falls, many streets in Kabul become dark and deserted. It was as if the capital was under a curfew, and even during the day, there were far fewer women. Kabul, like other parts of conservative Afghanistan, has long been dominated by men.
Taliban authorities imposed strict restrictions that prevented women from participating in public life. Thousands of beauty salons, a staple of Kabul’s streets, were ordered to close, while public parks, sports halls and fitness centers were also banned from women. Gone are the daily scenes of thousands of Afghan girls and women going to school since authorities closed their schools and colleges.
Humaira, 29, said that currently, women who dare to leave the house dress more conservatively, with black body coverings, scarves and masks. However, he feels safer because he is no longer “harassed” on the street.
“If there is a gloomy atmosphere in the city, this is caused by economic problems,” said another resident named Ramisha. “The sadness you see on a woman’s or man’s face comes from economic difficulties,” he concluded.
ae/as (AFP)
Don’t miss the exclusive content we select every Wednesday for you. Register your e-mail to subscribe to the weekly Wednesday Bite Newsletter.
(haf/haf)
2023-11-30 15:24:31
#Changing #Face #Kabul #Taliban #Safer #Gloomier