Fun? Not on your life, says Taliban

Afghans living in fear
KABUL:
These have made a comeback in the years since, but fears are growing they will be banned again if the hardline Islamists return to power.

The insurgents have made enormous military and territorial gains since US troops began their final withdrawal in May, and their leaders say they want Afghanistan to return to being an Islamic emirate ruled by religious elders.

Musician Sayed Mohammad makes a living as a professional musician playing the japani, a traditional Central Asian stringed instrument he first picked up as a boy.

He still remembers the evening two decades ago when the Taliban broke into a house where he and his friends were playing music and singing.



When the insurgents were ousted, Mohammad celebrated by attending a concert. “When the music played, I felt a tremor passing through my body out of sheer joy,” he said.

Since then, many Afghans like Mohammad have become professional musicians and singers. Their playing days appear to be numbered.

In a small shop in the Afghan capital Kabul, beautician Farida transforms a shy young Afghan woman into a radiant bride-to-be. Despite its bustling popularity, Farida’s beauty parlour is one of hundreds across the country that face an uncertain future. The Taliban severely restricted the movement and activities of women and girls during their rule, and banned beauty parlours.

“They don’t want women working,” said Farida. “I think the Taliban will force us to leave when they come back.”

In a another bustling Kabul shop, surrounded by hundreds of colourful kites of all sizes, Zelgai says he is determined not to give up his family-run business – even though he has flown close to wind before.



The much-loved national pastime earned a reputation abroad after Afghan author Khaled Hosseini’s 2003 bestselling novel The Kite Runner was turned into a film.



Talash is the only female member of a group who practice breakdancing in secret.

“If the Taliban have not changed and they lock women at homes and trample their rights, then life would be meaningless for me,” she said.