From Republic to Emirate

Afghanistan under the Taliban

One year after the Taliban took over Afghanistan, VOA brings special coverage of how the group is now running the country, and how the lives of Afghans, both those who fled and those who stayed, have changed.

Watch the documentary

Homeland

Afghanistan is her home and Zahrah Nabi is staying. While many Afghans, both men and women, have fled the return of Taliban rule, Nabi is determined to fight for her rights. A rare glimpse into the life and dreams of a woman who has chosen to stand her ground, no matter the consequences.

The Displaced Rabab

Shams Sanam ran for his life after a phone call threatening to chop off his head. Musicians had no space in the new Afghanistan under Taliban. The 27-year-old rabab player managed to escape to neighboring Pakistan, but has found life difficult without an income or a support system.

The Taliban's Unfulfilled Promises

When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan a year ago, they promised to be more inclusive. Many of the Taliban's pledges concerned respecting the rights of women, a change in stance from their rule 20 years prior. On the anniversary of their return to power, we look at which promises the Taliban have kept and which they have broken.

About the project

One year into Taliban rule, VOA has taken a detailed and objective look at Afghanistan, yesterday and today. In this special project, we bring you previously untold stories, features on Afghan refugees and their struggles in foreign lands, eyewitness accounts of the day Kabul fell, analytical pieces on the Taliban’s governance, security challenges, and relations with regional countries, and several documentaries.

Project credits

Executive Producer: Ayesha Tanzeem

Supervising Producer: Deepak Dobhal

Coordinating Producer: Sirwan Kajjo

Coordination Assistance: Alparslan Esmer, Iftikhar Hussain, Aisha Khalid, Roshan Noorzai, Jamisha Purdy, Ezel Sahinkaya

Executive Assistance: Hasib Danish Alokozai, Asgar Asgarov, Melek Caglar, Tabinda Naeem, Cevdet Seyhan, Motabar Shirwani, Nafees Takar

Copy Editors: Elizabeth Arrott, Michael Bowman, Kevin Enochs, Holly Franko, Amy Katz, Barry Newhouse, Amy Reifenrath, Mary-Alice Salinas, Sharon Shahid, Candace Williams

Social Media: Leena Halabi, Andrea Migliorisi, Stephanie Tu

Special Thanks: John Featherly