Taliban Power Challenged With Protests On Independence Day

This year, Independence Day in a shaken Afghanistan is one of contradictions from the Taliban and challenges from a vocal, young generation.

Independence Day in a shaken Afghanistan, met by contradictions from the Taliban and challenges from a vocal, young generation. Anti-militant chants of “Our flag, our identity” echoed down the streets of Kabul Thursday, while heavily armed fighters patrolled the city they took, without battle, on Sunday. Protests across the north erupted in violence, suggesting the new Taliban won’t tolerate dissent: In Jalalabad, they fired on demonstrators waving the Afghan flag – not the Taliban’s white one. People bolted, but at least three Afghans were killed. More protesters were reported dead in Konar province.