Return of Mediaeval Times
A YEAR has passed since the Taliban stormed Kabul to restore control of Afghanistan, some 20 years after American soldiers toppled the country's hardline Islamic government in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Although there was a promise of some restraint, it was a return to the previous order. Sadly, the Taliban government has completely returned to its previous practices. Afghanistan is experiencing a significant step backward as basic human rights are severely restricted, even though the war is over and there is a largely peaceful environment. The Taliban government may still be in contact with the outside community, but there is no indication that they have received official recognition. Even those nations that had been in favor of a more lenient approach to them have expressed grave concern over the Taliban because of their own intransigence, which was encouraged by the hard-liners among them, regarding women and other human rights as well as their c