Ending 20 years of war have left the Taliban stronger than ever before after the withdrawal of the last US troops. Gunfires echoed across Kabul in celebration of their withdrawal, but those who were left behind are now being harassed, especially, the ones who helped American and allied forces are now being threatened.
Letter of death
Following the withdrawal of the last US troops, 2 decades of war came to an end which has sadly brought the Taliban more into power, making it stronger than it was in 2001.
However, those who are left behind in the country are facing their worst nightmares under the Taliban rule. Door-to-door searches are being conducted by the insurgent, searching for those people who helped the American and allied forces while pinning letters on their houses warning them to “surrender or die”.
According to Daily Mail, the pinned letters ask the people to attend a Taliban-convened court where their punishment will be determined. It also warns that any sort of failure to attend court will result in the death penalty.
The receivers of the letters and their connections
People who received these letters include a construction company worker that helped the UK military build roads in Helmand province, he says that he is hiding only because he doesn’t want to die. According to the 34-year-old, the letter was pinned at his door by the Taliban.
Another person, who worked as a translator for the British military tells the Daily Mail that the letter branded him as a “spy of the infidel” along with a warning to surrender himself in or pay with his life.
Another translator had just came back from prayers at a mosque and found the letter in his shoe.
Sadly, according to these men, they said they wanted to get out of Afghanistan and were one of the people who were there rushing to save their own lives at the Kabul airport after the Taliban took power. They told Daily Mails that they couldn’t evacuate the flight due to the swarms of people and are now living in fear for the lives of their families.
An old tactic of issuing threats
More than 20 years ago, the Taliban used this same tactic to issue threats in villages when they were in power. However, they have upped their game and are now widely circulating these letters in cities.
In conclusion, these age-old tactics show that the Taliban haven’t made any sort of changes to their governing style despite their claims that they are now “moderate”.
Lastly, celebratory gunfire echoed throughout Kabul by the insurgents as the last of the US troops were withdrawn on Tuesday.
