A lot of our conversations in Kabul and across Afghanistan these days are about peace. For the first time in my lifetime, the end of this conflict seems like a real possibility. But as we watch developments between the Taliban and the US administration, we are cautious. As Afghans we have learned the hard way not to raise our hopes too high. A saying in Dari, one of Afghanistan’s official languages, translates as: “A person bitten by a snake will always be afraid of any long rope.”
The recent meetings between Taliban leaders and Zalmay Khalilzad, US special envoy for peace, are reported to have produced an initial framework for peace in Afghanistan, including clauses for the US withdrawal of troops and – if rumours in the bazaar are to be believed – a more controversial proposal for an interim government involving the Taliban. Mr Khalilzad has denied that such a proposal is under a consideration, but regardless, for many Afghans, talk of the Taliban returning to power has brought back grim memories.
From 1996 until 2001, the Taliban imposed a fundamentalist Islamist rule over most of Afghanistan. My own memories of visiting Taliban-ruled Kabul from Pakistan, where my family had sought refuge, are unpleasant. As a child, I recall watching a barbaric public execution in a Kabul football stadium, and the fear and trauma that followed for days after. Years later, when I returned to a Kabul stadium to cheer for our national team, I became emotional at the disturbing recollection.
In recent days, I have seen hundreds of posts on social media, in which Afghans – particularly women – share stories of the Taliban’s casual brutality. In one, Mariam Atahi, a spokesperson for Save The Children in Afghanistan, wrote about her last day at school, just days after the Taliban’s invasion of Kabul in 1995.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen, just like thousands of other girls across Afghanistan. One day before their [arrival in Kabul] we had a party in our class. After the party, my teacher kissed us and said goodbye, hoping she would see us the next day. None of us realised we would never see each other again,” she wrote.
After the Taliban came to power, they banned education for women. Girls like Mariam were forced to stay home, or study clandestinely in underground schools.
Today, Ms Atahi fears a new generation of Afghans could lose much of what has been gained since the Taliban were forced from power. “I fear if they will come and undermine the social justice, our basic human rights, our personal freedom, the freedom of speech, the rights of women and even our basic sense of peace,” she said.
The Taliban have issued some conciliatory statements lately. "After the end of the occupation, Afghans should forget their past and tolerate one another and start life like brothers," spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AP this week.
There is even a suggestion they may tolerate women in the workforce. Many in Kabul are not convinced.
"They want to draw lines for what women's rights entails," Shkula Zadran, who works for an international organisation in Kabul, told The National. "The Taliban's thinking is still 20 years behind; their focus in on women's clothes and not our potential."
Women are not the only group who are feeling vulnerable right now. Thirty-year-old Shakir Ahmadzai told The National that he is praying the Taliban will never return. If they do, he is considering leaving the country.
“They will destroy everything we built in last 18 years,” he said. “I know a lot of us are afraid that this will be the end of democracy in Afghanistan, the end of freedom of speech, and even the end of a free life.”
Rights groups have urged the US and Afghan governments to ensure that progress made since the US invasion is not trampled up on.
“Afghans – women and men – desperately want peace,” said Heather Barr, a women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “But they – and their government – have so far been shut out of the negotiations over their own future, with no influence and very little information about what is being discussed and agreed.
“We know from 20 years of looking at the role of women in peace negotiations that if you are not at the table, your interests are not protected.”
Mr Khalilzad has offered assurances to Afghans that their interests are in hand.
“The path to peace doesn’t often run in a straight line,” he tweeted on Thursday. “The situation in #Afghanistan is complex and like all sensitive talks, not everything is conducted in public.”
While “significant progress” was being made, he cautioned that the war will not be resolved immediately. “You can't eat an elephant in one bite!”
PRESIDENTS CUP
Draw for Presidents Cup fourball matches on Thursday (Internationals first mention). All times UAE:
02.32am (Thursday): Marc Leishman/Joaquin Niemann v Tiger Woods/Justin Thomas
02.47am (Thursday): Adam Hadwin/Im Sung-jae v Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
03.02am (Thursday): Adam Scott/An Byeong-hun v Bryson DeChambeau/Tony Finau
03.17am (Thursday): Hideki Matsuyama/CT Pan v Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed
03.32am (Thursday): Abraham Ancer/Louis Oosthuizen v Dustin Johnson/Gary Woodland
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
More on Quran memorisation:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
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Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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