Families Flee Taliban Attacks in Northern Afghanistan
2021-07-17
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1Taliban fighters are gaining control of many areas in northern Afghanistan causing families to flee.
2The areas are home to many ethnic minorities.
3Thousands of families are crowding into camps because they fear living under the Taliban's rule.
4Afghanistan's Refugee and Repatriations Ministry said, during a recent two-week period, 5,600 families fled their homes.
5Most were from the northern part of the country.
6Outside the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif is Camp Istiqlal where 50 families live in difficult conditions.
7The temperature can reach 44 degrees Celsius.
8And there is one bathroom, a hole in the ground, for the whole camp.
9Many families told of how the Taliban took their towns and villages.
10Even after promises and negotiations, there is doubt that the Taliban will not repeat their severe rule of the past.
11Yaqub Maradi fled his village when the Taliban arrived.
12He said they tried to intimidate villagers into staying.
13Maradi's brother and other family members were arrested and, "held hostage to stop them from leaving," he said.
14Maradi continued, "Maybe he is released today, but he cannot leave."
15The Taliban have enforced their own taxes in areas they control.
16Ashor Ali is a truck driver.
17He told The Associated Press he pays the Taliban $147, or half of what he makes,
18for each load of coal that he takes across the border of a province.
19The group is promising Afghans, including minorities, that they have nothing to fear.
20Taliban negotiators are attending international conferences.
21They send their former ministers to Afghanistan from Qatar, where they have a political office.
22The Taliban's leadership council has its headquarters in Pakistan.
23The group still requires Islamic rule.
24It said its methods and beliefs are less severe than before.
25But fleeing local people said it seems many Taliban commanders either have not gotten the message or are not listening.
26In February 2020, the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States.
27It reportedly prevents the rebel group from capturing provincial capitals.
28But Kandahar in the south and Badghis in the north, are facing attack.
29People in Afghanistan's capital Kabul also fear a Taliban attack.
30The Interior Ministry said this month that a rocket defense system has been built to protect the city.
31But the statement offered no details about where it came from or what it cost.
32The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan have all warned the Taliban against trying to gain a military victory.
33They warn they will be international pariahs, or rejected by other countries.
34Taliban leaders promised they are not doing this.
35But their negotiators boasted of their gains in recent meetings in Iran and Russia.
36The group blames the Afghan government for not restarting talks aimed at including leaders from both sides of the conflict.
37Suhail Shaheen is the Taliban's political spokesman and a member of its negotiation team.
38He told AP that he waited for a high-level delegation from Kabul to come to Doha for talks three times. They never came, he said.
39The government delegation was to include several officials and leaders.
40Former President Hamid Karzai, National Reconciliation Council chief Abdullah Abdullah, and local commander Ata Mohammad Noor were to attend.
41Afghan officials who knew of the planned meetings confirmed they aimed to travel to Doha.
42But they said President Ashraf Ghani has been unwilling, often blocking efforts.
43The officials spoke to reporter on the condition that they remain unidentified.
44Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Afghanistan's leaders to find common ground.
45He said it was up to Afghans to bring an end to many years of war.
46Ninety percent of the U.S. and NATO military withdrawal has been completed and General Scott Miller has left his command.
47I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Taliban fighters are gaining control of many areas in northern Afghanistan causing families to flee. 2The areas are home to many ethnic minorities. Thousands of families are crowding into camps because they fear living under the Taliban's rule. 3Afghanistan's Refugee and Repatriations Ministry said, during a recent two-week period, 5,600 families fled their homes. Most were from the northern part of the country. 4Outside the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif is Camp Istiqlal where 50 families live in difficult conditions. The temperature can reach 44 degrees Celsius. And there is one bathroom, a hole in the ground, for the whole camp. 5Many families told of how the Taliban took their towns and villages. Even after promises and negotiations, there is doubt that the Taliban will not repeat their severe rule of the past. 6Yaqub Maradi fled his village when the Taliban arrived. He said they tried to intimidate villagers into staying. Maradi's brother and other family members were arrested and, "held hostage to stop them from leaving," he said. 7Maradi continued, "Maybe he is released today, but he cannot leave." 8The Taliban have enforced their own taxes in areas they control. Ashor Ali is a truck driver. He told The Associated Press he pays the Taliban $147, or half of what he makes, for each load of coal that he takes across the border of a province. 9The group is promising Afghans, including minorities, that they have nothing to fear. Taliban negotiators are attending international conferences. They send their former ministers to Afghanistan from Qatar, where they have a political office. The Taliban's leadership council has its headquarters in Pakistan. 10The group still requires Islamic rule. It said its methods and beliefs are less severe than before. But fleeing local people said it seems many Taliban commanders either have not gotten the message or are not listening. 11In February 2020, the Taliban signed an agreement with the United States. It reportedly prevents the rebel group from capturing provincial capitals. But Kandahar in the south and Badghis in the north, are facing attack. 12People in Afghanistan's capital Kabul also fear a Taliban attack. The Interior Ministry said this month that a rocket defense system has been built to protect the city. But the statement offered no details about where it came from or what it cost. 13The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan have all warned the Taliban against trying to gain a military victory. They warn they will be international pariahs, or rejected by other countries. 14Taliban leaders promised they are not doing this. But their negotiators boasted of their gains in recent meetings in Iran and Russia. 15The group blames the Afghan government for not restarting talks aimed at including leaders from both sides of the conflict. 16Suhail Shaheen is the Taliban's political spokesman and a member of its negotiation team. He told AP that he waited for a high-level delegation from Kabul to come to Doha for talks three times. They never came, he said. 17The government delegation was to include several officials and leaders. Former President Hamid Karzai, National Reconciliation Council chief Abdullah Abdullah, and local commander Ata Mohammad Noor were to attend. 18Afghan officials who knew of the planned meetings confirmed they aimed to travel to Doha. But they said President Ashraf Ghani has been unwilling, often blocking efforts. The officials spoke to reporter on the condition that they remain unidentified. 19Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Afghanistan's leaders to find common ground. He said it was up to Afghans to bring an end to many years of war. Ninety percent of the U.S. and NATO military withdrawal has been completed and General Scott Miller has left his command. 20I'm Gregory Stachel. 21Kathy Gannon reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 22___________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24intimidate - v. to make (someone) afraid 25province -n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into 26boast -v. to express too much pride in yourself for something you have done or are connected with