In Kabul, Some Fear Economic Collapse More Than Taliban Rule
2021-09-04
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1At a pizza restaurant in downtown Kabul, workers and customers are worried about Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers.
2Some, however, say they are more worried about economic collapse than things like being forced to grow long facial hair - a practice from the Taliban's earlier time in power.
3Others fear for the future of their children.
4With the Taliban now in control, some in Kabul are thinking of ways to escape the country.
5"I have to run away so I can feed my family," said Mustafa, a server at another nearby fast-food place.
6He had come to the pizzeria for tea and to talk with friends working there.
7Mustafa told the Associated Press that he has a family of 11 to support.
8He is considering seeking work in neighboring Iran.
9He said his earnings have been cut by 75 percent since the Taliban overran Kabul.
10Pizzeria owner Mohammad Yaseen said daily sales have dropped sharply.
11He has been looking through old emails, searching for a foreigner who might help him resettle overseas.
12"It's not for me I want to leave, but for my children," he said.
13Still, there is a sense of a return to business as usual across much of the Afghan capital.
14It is a different feeling than what was taking place at the Kabul airport, where thousands pushed toward gates for days, hoping for a chance to leave.
15In much of Kabul, the usual busy traffic is back. Markets have opened.
16On the streets, the same police who served in the Washington-allied government of President Ashraf Ghani are still waving their hands trying to control the busy activity.
17Taliban fighters have taken up positions in front of most government ministries.
18Some are in military clothes.
19Others wear the traditional Afghan clothes of loose pants and a long shirt called a tunic.
20Street sellers have even been able to make a profit by selling the Taliban's white flag.
21Shah Mohammad makes up to $15 a day selling different sizes of the flag.
22He makes his way through traffic, waving the small flags at passing cars.
23He also has full-size flags on offer.
24Before the Taliban takeover, he sold cloths for cleaning cars.
25He said that would earn him only about $4 a day.
26But financial problems are affecting many others in the city.
27Salaries have gone unpaid. Government ministries that employ hundreds of thousands of people are barely operating, even as the Taliban have urged some to return to work.
28Outside the Afghan National Bank, thousands are lining up trying to take out money.
29The Taliban have limited weekly withdrawals to $200.
30Noorullah has been operating a small store for 11 years.
31He said he has not had a single customer since the Taliban arrived on August 15.
32He said he cannot pay the rent on his store.
33"The banks are closed. All the people who have money are running away from this country," he said.
34"No one is bringing money here."
35Noorullah said he has no chance to leave.
36He is not sure he would leave even if he could.
37He said if the economy improved, he would stay -- even with the Taliban in power.
38"I was born here," he said.
39"I lived here all my life. I will die here."
40Thinking about the 20-year U.S. military presence in his country, Noorullah said,
41"America did not do a good job here. They let corruption grow until there was nothing left."
42I'm Ashley Thompson.
1At a pizza restaurant in downtown Kabul, workers and customers are worried about Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers. 2Some, however, say they are more worried about economic collapse than things like being forced to grow long facial hair - a practice from the Taliban's earlier time in power. Others fear for the future of their children. 3With the Taliban now in control, some in Kabul are thinking of ways to escape the country. 4"I have to run away so I can feed my family," said Mustafa, a server at another nearby fast-food place. He had come to the pizzeria for tea and to talk with friends working there. 5Mustafa told the Associated Press that he has a family of 11 to support. He is considering seeking work in neighboring Iran. He said his earnings have been cut by 75 percent since the Taliban overran Kabul. 6Pizzeria owner Mohammad Yaseen said daily sales have dropped sharply. He has been looking through old emails, searching for a foreigner who might help him resettle overseas. "It's not for me I want to leave, but for my children," he said. 7Still, there is a sense of a return to business as usual across much of the Afghan capital. It is a different feeling than what was taking place at the Kabul airport, where thousands pushed toward gates for days, hoping for a chance to leave. 8In much of Kabul, the usual busy traffic is back. Markets have opened. On the streets, the same police who served in the Washington-allied government of President Ashraf Ghani are still waving their hands trying to control the busy activity. 9Taliban fighters have taken up positions in front of most government ministries. Some are in military clothes. Others wear the traditional Afghan clothes of loose pants and a long shirt called a tunic. 10Street sellers have even been able to make a profit by selling the Taliban's white flag. 11Shah Mohammad makes up to $15 a day selling different sizes of the flag. He makes his way through traffic, waving the small flags at passing cars. He also has full-size flags on offer. Before the Taliban takeover, he sold cloths for cleaning cars. He said that would earn him only about $4 a day. 12But financial problems are affecting many others in the city. 13Salaries have gone unpaid. Government ministries that employ hundreds of thousands of people are barely operating, even as the Taliban have urged some to return to work. 14Outside the Afghan National Bank, thousands are lining up trying to take out money. The Taliban have limited weekly withdrawals to $200. 15Noorullah has been operating a small store for 11 years. He said he has not had a single customer since the Taliban arrived on August 15. He said he cannot pay the rent on his store. 16"The banks are closed. All the people who have money are running away from this country," he said. "No one is bringing money here." 17Noorullah said he has no chance to leave. He is not sure he would leave even if he could. He said if the economy improved, he would stay -- even with the Taliban in power. 18"I was born here," he said. "I lived here all my life. I will die here." 19Thinking about the 20-year U.S. military presence in his country, Noorullah said, "America did not do a good job here. They let corruption grow until there was nothing left." 20I'm Ashley Thompson. 21The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 22__________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business 25practice - n. the action of doing or using something 26salary - n. an amount of money that an employee is paid each year