These pictures show how life changed for Afghans since Taliban takeover

After ruling the country from 1996 to 2001, by forcing the radical implementation of the Sharia law, the Taliban has promised a relatively flexible way of rule this time. But the world and several Afghans remain skeptical of these claims.

Written by Express Web Desk

Updated: September 4, 2021 16:22 IST

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As the Taliban swiftly took over parts of Afghanistan, and ultimately seized its capital in Kabul, things have dramatically changed for the Afghan people. (AP Photo)

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With militants and armed forces walking through the streets, personal freedoms of Afghan people stand suspended. Some are locked up in their homes, while most of the civilians are engaged in desperate attempts to flee the country. (AP Photo)

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The United States alone is expecting at least 50,000 Afghan refugees. Tens of thousands of Afghans have already made it through security vetting and arrived in the US to begin the process of resettlement. Exactly how many more will come and how long it will take remain open questions. (AP Photo)

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"Afghanistan faces a looming humanitarian catastrophe,'' the UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday. (Source: AP)

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“One in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. Nearly half of all children under the age of 5 are predicted to be acutely malnourished in the next 12 months,” the United Nations has noted. (AP Photo)

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Afghanistan’s economy is battling the ramifications of an ongoing drought and the conflict that has killed an estimated 240,000 Afghans. (AP Photo)

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The new era of Taliban rule brought along long queues outside banks and soaring prices in the bazaars. (Photo: Bloomberg)

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For the Taliban, growing economic hardship in Afghanistan is emerging as a huge challenge, along with a sinking currency and rising inflation. (Reuters Photo)

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More than a third of the population in Afghanistan lives on less than $2 a day. (Reuters Photo)

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As offices and shops are shut in Afghanistan for a few weeks now, even the well-off in the country are struggling to pay salaries and make ends meet. (AP Photo)

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After ruling the country from 1996 to 2001, by forcing the radical implementation of the Sharia Law, the militant group has promised a relatively flexible way of rule this time. But the world, and several Afghans remain skeptical of these claims. (AP Photo)