‘Why did we fight?’ Challenge of governing is wearing down Taliban.
The veteran Taliban fighter once strove for martyrdom on the Afghan battlefield of what he considered an Islamic revolution.
But the Taliban insurgency’s lightning victory in August has yet to bring a long-promised paradise, says Rahmatullah. Instead, he fears, it’s revealing internal divisions, even resentment.
“We struggled and fought in extreme poverty. Now our leaders are ruling and have luxury cars and lots of facilities, but the majority of mujahideen don’t have salaries and their families are worse off,” says the fighter, who uses one name.
“Some of the lower echelons of the mujahideen are now wondering, ‘What was the benefit of our struggle, and why did we fight?’”
To be sure, there is peace today and relative security, a balm to all Afghans after 40 years of war. And Taliban leaders, fighters, and many Afghans welcome restoration of the self-declared Islamic Emirate,
Leaders’ promisesA father’s story“An ill-thought-out power grab”An obligation to improve lives
