Kabul: Years later, the Taliban have regained control of Afghanistan. Protests against the Taliban continue in Afghanistan. There were shootings in several places during the protests. Meanwhile, this time the Taliban entered the scene with radical changes. The assessment is part of an ongoing effort by the Taliban to change the image of the international community.
This time, the Taliban’s intervention is very different from that of 996-2001. This is why the Taliban has repeatedly said that they are protecting the country from foreign forces and protecting the rights of women and minorities.
The Taliban has been active on social media as part of its efforts to improve its image. Observers say the Taliban have not learned from past mistakes. Here are some of the changes that led to the so-called Taliban 2.0 …
Economic growth …
The Taliban is reported to have achieved greater economic growth in 2021 than in previous years. The Taliban has been able to maintain a deep presence in the country’s economy. They were also able to find money for their missions. According to a France 24 report, the Taliban have been waging a series of armed insurgency across the country since the 2001 crash. For this, the tax system and sophisticated financial systems were used. The Taliban is said to have earned millions of rupees at government expense, including seizing posts on the border.
Women’s issue …
Two days after the Taliban captured Kabul, Afghan TV An interview was aired on the channel. A Taliban member was interviewed by a female presenter on the Tolo News channel. In addition to the interview with the Taliban, TV Journalists also reported the news from the streets of Kabul. Such an incident would have been unthinkable to Afghan citizens during the Taliban’s last regime. Therefore, the Taliban has undergone a lot of changes in matters related to women.
The Taliban banned women from going to work between 1996 and 2001. Girls’ education was also denied. In addition, TV in the country. It was forbidden to watch shows and enjoy music.
International cooperation ….
The Taliban reportedly wanted international recognition. U.S. in Afghanistan The Taliban are well aware that military intervention is not just about human rights issues. The United States’ arrival in Afghanistan was prompted by the failure to extradite Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks. So the Taliban realized that harboring other militants could lead to foreign military intervention.
Active on social media too …
The Taliban have also been active on social media, including Twitter, to boost their image in the eyes of the international community. Taliban militants have been circulating a number of pictures and videos on Twitter since entering Kabul. They were portrayed in the videos as ordinary people who could be approached by anyone and anything. Videos of eating ice cream and exercise were released.
In some videos, the Taliban are portrayed as protectors of the Shia Hazara and Sikh minorities in Afghanistan. The goal is to establish that they are the ones who ensure the safety of these groups. In addition, videos of girls going to school after the Taliban seized power were released on Twitter.
Complete change in dress …
There have also been many changes in the dress code of Taliban members. The senior Taliban members were dressed in traditional attire and had long beards. But the new members have made drastic changes in dress. This can be clearly seen in the videos from Afghanistan.
Looking like Taliban is not Cheap pic.twitter.com/IlchdEyRca
— Megh Updates ????™ (@MeghUpdates) August 19, 2021
Taliban members in clean-shaven, new clothes and baseball caps appear in several videos. With this, the trolls spread on social media that the dress of the Taliban is not so simple. These trolls are made to include the price details of expensive clothing and sunglasses.
The Taliban were reportedly using sneakers from a Pakistan-based service shoe maker. These sneakers, called cheetahs, are used by athletes.
Content Highlights: many changes in taliban including dress and social media presence
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