Wealthier, Twitter-savvy, with sneakers and sunglasses: what’s changed in Taliban 2.0

Days after taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban ensured that their global image was that of a defender who had learned from past mistakes and defended their country from foreign rule while taking into account the rights of women, minorities and neighboring countries. are here for

The extremist group is now being dubbed as Taliban 2.0 for its efficient use of social media to improve the image of the terrorist organization.

Here are the major changes News18 could see in the so-called new Taliban:

Rich

The Taliban in 2021 is in a much stronger economic position than when it emerged in 1994 as one of several factions waging civil war.

Unlike the relatively new, inexperienced organization of northern Pakistan, the Taliban now maintain a deep financial presence in the country and have enjoyed numerous economic victories to fund their operations.

According to a report by France 24, the hardliners have sustained a long-running insurgency across the country since its collapse in 2001, with a sophisticated financial network and taxation system to fund operations – the major limitation. Including the recent seizure of checkpoints, which reportedly earned him millions. Government expenditure.

Woman

Two days after the fall of Kabul, TV viewers in Afghanistan witnessed a scene that would have been unimaginable under the former Taliban regime (1996–2001): an Afghan female presenter for the Tolo news channel interviews a Taliban official.

Host Beheshta Arghand asked questions about the security situation in the Afghan capital. The privately owned news channel also posted a video of another female journalist reporting from the streets of Kabul.

When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women were barred from taking up most jobs and girls’ education was confined to primary school. Watching TV and listening to music was banned, and adulterers could be stoned to death.

International cooperation

The Taliban crave international recognition because they have learned the hard way that having an international pariah hosting terrorists is a surefire way to attract foreign military intervention.

The leaders of the movement are well aware that the US invaded Afghanistan after refusing to hand over 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, not the many years of human rights violations.

twitter image

Despite concerns about human rights violations, the new Taliban has found a new path in the international community.

The Twitter and other social media content the Taliban are now creating is a sign that they have a dark age behind them.

After entering Kabul, terrorists posted videos and photos of their fighters posing as normal, accessible people: working, eating ice cream and looking good.

In other online videos, the protective Taliban now check in with minorities such as Shia Hazaras and Sikhs, and insist they are out for their own safety. The Taliban leader, who is Sunni, even attended a major Shiite commemoration. An official Twitter handle of the Taliban posted a video of girls attending school in Herat after the takeover to allay fears that women would again be wiped out of Afghan public life. A Taliban spokesman insisted that the country would never again be used as a launchpad for terror groups.

taliban dress

Taliban 2.0 seems to have abandoned the harsh look of its predecessors, whose fighters (from 1996 to 2001) were known for their hair and serious appearance, with traditional attire worn with full beards. Members are now seen with sunglasses, stylish trainers and baseball caps with Taliban flags.

Photos taken in Kabul in recent days also show some Taliban fighters clean-shaven, eschewing the beard required under strict Islamic law. This has prompted social media users to mock the fighters as ‘avant-garde’ fashion victims working with ‘designers’ to create their looks.

a new York Times The report, which was published earlier this year, stated that “the new style trend among Taliban fighters is apparently a white high-top sneaker. Called the ‘cheetah’, the shoes are from Pakistan-based sneakers. The models are among the best-selling models, according to Service, footwear company Service Shoes and are endorsed by athletes and sports icons alike.

According to the company’s website, Servis “continues to develop the brand positioning that is currently ‘Shoes for Everyone’ – a genuine and inspiring promise with our customers.” According to the Times, “Shoes for All” has apparently replaced “Shoes for Terrorists”, which is quietly available at market kiosks. Sneakers have become synonymous with violence, and especially at the feet of the Taliban.

taliban flag

According to a report in 2012, the Taliban intends to replace the Afghan national flag with its white banner with the Shahada “La ilaha ila Allah, Muhammad Rasool Allah” (There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God). . al Jazeera. It said the removal of the Afghan flag has triggered protests in at least two Afghan cities, with at least three people killed in the eastern city of Jalalabad during anti-Taliban protests.

The flag of the group’s Islamic Emirate has been used as a prominent symbol of the militants for over two decades. It is white and only features the Shahada in capital black letters in the center. Reports say it represents the “sanctity of his faith” and his government’s unshakable belief in Islamic principles. The same verse is also on the flag of the Afghan Republic, but less prominently as the national flag embodies other aspects of Afghan history.

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