On our Independence Day, we Afghans feel like prisoners: Former Afghan journalist

August 19 is celebrated as Independence Day in Afghanistan, however, this year, residents are afraid to even put up the national flag, in presence of the Taliban.

Cooped up inside his Kabul home with his family since the the capital city, Akhtarabir Akhtar, who eagerly waits to celebrate August 19 to mark the Independence Day of his beloved Afghanistan, says instead of festivities, fear and an uneasy calm rule the streets. Mr. Akhtar, a former journalist, is not a stranger to the fear of being targeted, but the chain of events in the past few days has given him sleepless nights. "August 19 is our Independence Day and we celebrate this occasion every year with feast and much gaiety. People decorate their homes and plant country flags, make merry, go to decked-up bazaars, wear colourful national clothes and do the national dance 'Attan'. All of that is missing today," the 54-year-old told PTI over phone from Kabul.