Kabul sees protest against ‘Pakistan’s interference in Afghanistan’

Kabul Tuesday saw a protest against Pakistan's 'interference' in Afghanistan's affairs. The Taliban fired into the air and arrested several journalists in an attempt to disperse a demonstration outside the Pakistan embassy in Kabul. (Photo: Reuters)

Hundreds of protesters, including women, accused Islamabad of aiding the Taliban’s assault on northern Panjshir province, the last to be taken over by the group after the withdrawal of US troops. (Reuters)

A fighter points a gun at the protesters. This was the second time in under a week that the Taliban used heavy-handed tactics to break up a demonstration. (Reuters)

Dozens of women were among the protesters, with some carrying signs lamenting the killing of their sons by Taliban fighters they say were aided by Pakistan. One sign read: “I am a mother when you kill my son you kill a part of me.” (AP)

In one case, Taliban waving Kalashnikov rifles took a microphone from a journalist and began beating him with it, breaking the microphone. (Reuters)

The demonstrators held signs that read "death to Pakistan", "Freedom", "Allah Akbar" and "we do not want captivity" among many other slogans. (Reuters)

The protest comes days after Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed made an unannounced visit to Kabul last week, amidst mounting pressure on the Taliban to form an inclusive government acceptable to the international community. (AP)

Women at the protest in Kabul. Before this too, women have staged demonstrations against the Taliban. (AP)