Afghanistan’s hunters become hunted as Taliban conquer old order
Sporting a black turban, thick beard, kohl eyeliner and long hair, Noor Ahmad no longer needs to disguise his loyalties.
Before the Taliban conquest of Kabul, the 27-year-old intelligence officer in the Islamist movement went about his duties in the Afghan capital covertly, clean-shaven and clad in jeans and T-shirt or a jacket and tie. His mission to conduct undercover surveillance operations against assassination targets.
He has no regrets about the victims: “They supported the foreign occupation. We targeted people in very quiet, out-of-the-way places, away from traffic and civilians.”
Following the sudden Taliban takeover of Kabul in August, men like Ahmad have burst into the open after years of hiding from Afghan and international security forces. As one of the winners in Afghanistan’s latest war, he is free to walk among the throngs of Talibs who gather in parks and beauty spots each evening to watch the sunset, eat fruit and chat. The losers are now the ones in hiding.
The abrupt changing of the guard in Afghanistan has blown away hierarchies and conventions in every area of life, with the previously powerful on the run and ordinary people having to adapt to new strictures even though they bridle against them.
He has grown a beard and swapped his business suit and tie for a traditional shalwar kameez and black turban. He tries to make himself useful to the group of 50 Talibs who guard the complex by advising them on building maintenance.
“We are professional people with years of experience as administrators. It is hard to take orders from these illiterate people,” he said. “They have come here by force and we have to do what they tell us.”
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