A Retrospective on Afghanistan and the Taliban’s Influence

In August 2001, the Taliban militia took part in Afghanistan’s annual Independence Day parade in Kabul. Under Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, Afghanistan was isolated from the world. This changed rapidly after the September 11 attacks.

Editor’s note: This essay was initially published on September 8, 2016, marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan.

For many, September 11, 2001, remains deeply memorable. Many remember exactly where they were when they heard about the planes striking the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On that day, the writer was in Afghanistan, having arrived two days earlier to cover the trial of eight foreign aid workers arrested by the Taliban for allegedly preaching Christianity. This act was a capital crime under Taliban law.

As a correspondent for Time magazine, the writer had been reporting from Afghanistan since 1997. By 2001, Afghanistan was devastated under the Taliban’s authoritarian rule, reliant on foreign aid, and disconnected from the world. The country was suffering from drought and nearing famine. Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban regime.

The author’s time in Kabul highlighted the stark conditions. The city was worn down by poverty and conflict, with little infrastructure such as electricity, phone, or postal services. Roads were damaged, traffic was sparse, and privacy was strictly enforced. Under Taliban law, stringent rules were imposed, including men having to grow beards and wear turbans, and women being forced to wear burqas and forbidden from making noise with their shoes. Most women could not work outside their homes without male accompaniment. The regime’s religious police enforced these laws aggressively.

Throughout 2001, the Taliban regime escalated its anti-Western stance, issuing bizarre edicts such as banning the internet, nail polish, and lobster. Other prohibitions, like those on television, photography, kite flying, and music, had long been in place. This cultural suppression deepened the disconnection felt within the country.

Upon arrival in Kabul on September 9, 2001, the narrator met their assigned translator, a man distantly associated with the Taliban. That night brought news of an assassination: Ahmad Shah Massoud of the Northern Alliance was killed by attackers posing as journalists. Just two days later, the global impact of the 9/11 attacks hit home. With no TV access, Afghans could not see the devastation but heard of it through radio broadcasts. There was concern about U.S. retaliation against Afghanistan, which was harboring Osama bin Laden.

The Taliban’s foreign minister, Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, showed no willingness to surrender bin Laden. He justified the Taliban’s support for bin Laden, citing his past aid to Afghanistan against Soviet invasion. The stance remained resolute amid increasing international pressure.

After the attacks, few foreigners remained in Kabul. The imminent risk led humanitarian workers to evacuate quickly. Despite the fear of an impending U.S. strike, the city’s atmosphere was primarily edgy rather than dangerous. The uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily.

Subsequent visits to Afghanistan in 2002, and later in 2012 and 2013, showed substantial changes. Post-Taliban Kabul showed signs of revitalization with vibrant cultural activities, bustling markets, and a flourishing community of professionals. However, the legacy of Taliban and al-Qaida influences lingered, posing ongoing challenges to peace and stability.