the pervasive sentiment on :reddit-logo: is that the Taliban are just wantonly raping and pillaging, but how much of that is reality vs typical :amerikkka: jingoism.

it doesn't make sense to me why the nominal liberators of the imperialist regime would just turn around and destroy the same country that they're liberating. though I don't doubt that it must be happening at some level, surely the incidence of rape and murder is less than that inflicted by actual invaders, right? I just would have to believe that there would be fighting going on from many pockets if such acts were occurring at large scales.

  • pooh [she/her, love/loves]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I agree with you. I'm not pro-Taliban by any means, but they seem to be handling the takeover better than anyone expected, and so far their statements have been conciliatory and positive:

    Mujahid also said that the Taliban wanted to make the country “no longer a battlefield of conflict,” and added that anyone who fought against them has been pardoned. “Animosities have come to an end,” he said. “We don’t want any external or internal enemies... We want to live peacefully.”

    During the conference, Mujahid added that foreign countries and aid agencies would remain safe in Afghanistan, saying, “Your security is ensured, we will not allow anyone to do anything against you.” The reason the Taliban entered Kabul, he said, was because “the previous government was so incompetent. Their security forces could not do anything to ensure security ... We had to enter Kabul to ensure the security of the residents.” World News ‘I Keep Crying’: Young Afghan Women Are Terrified About Life Under Taliban Rule

    The Taliban spokesman then promised the formation of a new “strong, inclusive” government, one which would soon have functioning agencies. He said that women would not be discriminated against in Afghanistan and would work “shoulder to shoulder with us” within “our frameworks.” ​​The Taliban, Mujahid said, is “committed to the rights of women under the system of sharia (Islamic) law.”

    Of course we should wait and see, but so far it seems like things are at least moving in the direction of peace and reconstruction after decades of war. I'm cautiously optimistic based on what I've seen so far.