Life Under the Taliban 2.0
Afshin Ismaeli
Aftenposten
Two decades after being removed from power, the Taliban regained control in Kabul to rule over Afghanistan once again. This photographic essay portrays the varied facets of the existence of ordinary Afghans including Taliban fighters since the takeover.
The media usually cast Taliban militants as combatants, but here are images also showing them engaging in leisure activities, for example on an American helicopter, or a rowing machine, or even a pedal boat. The photographs uncover different aspects of the individuals generally concealed by the narrative of conflict.
For most Afghans the reality of life is grim. With international sanctions and the country’s foreign assets frozen since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, there are higher levels of poverty and millions of Afghans have to cope with acute food insecurity, loss of income, and limited access to essential services, in particular medical facilities struggling to treat large numbers of sick and malnourished children. Some Afghans are so poor and desperate that they have resorted to selling their kidneys to survive.
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Schoolgirls have little in the way of prospects for the future, as the Taliban have outlawed education for girls beyond primary school, but some women have been protesting and demanding their rights.
Yet Afghanistan is still a beautiful land, with strong, remarkable people. Children always find games to play and be happy. And communities across the country are coming together in mutual support. Here there are also pictures that capture moments of joy in a life of constant struggle.
No single nation has a simple one-dimensional story, and that is certainly the case for Afghanistan. This photo essay is designed to offer a deeper understanding of the complexities and feelings of life under Taliban rule. The images not only document the day-to-day challenges faced by the Afghan people, but also highlight their courage and resistance in hope and the pursuit of a better future.
Afshin Ismaeli
