Kabul: A day after taking over Afghanistan, videos have surfaced on the internet showing Taliban militants enjoying rides and having fun at an amusement park in Kabul. In the video, Taliban fighters were seen laughing and riding electric bumper cars while holding assault rifles and weapons. In another video, they were also seen taking rounds in merry-go-round riding play horses and amid chaos in Kabul.
The videos were shared by senior Reuters reporter Hamid Shalizi who is based in Kabul, showing a group of Taliban fighters spending time at an amusement park.
Watch the videos here:
#Kabul amusement park #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/ELK0GjrwAm
— Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) August 16, 2021
Another one #Kabul pic.twitter.com/dLTRP2KZOX
— Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) August 16, 2021
Another set of videos show Taliban soldiers bouncing on a trampoline and working out at the presidential palace gym.
Taliban's terrorists right now: pic.twitter.com/2F8qHzw6No
— Asaad Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) August 16, 2021
Trying to be “fit for governing”
Taliban in Afghanistan working out in the presidential palace’s gym. pic.twitter.com/s441sb6e35— Asaad Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) August 16, 2021
These videos come in sharp contrast to the heart-wrenching clips showing thousands of Afghans who are desperate to leave the war-torn country since the Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul. At least 10 people have been killed and several left wounded amid complete chaos and gunfire at the passenger terminal of the Kabul international airport where thousands of Afghans have converged in hopes of getting an evacuation flight.
Videos on social media platforms showed Afghan citizens jostling to climb the ladder to get inside the flight leaving the war-torn country. Two such desperate people tied themselves to the wheels of a military plane that was taking off from the runway but fell to their death.
Afghanistan now stares at an uncertain future especially after President Ashraf Ghani left the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash, according to news agency Reuters. The armed group’s takeover of Kabul comes nearly 20 years after relinquishing power in an American-led assault.
Many Afghans fear the Taliban will return to past harsh practices in their imposition of sharia religious law. During their rule, women could not work and punishments such as stoning, whipping and hanging were administered.
(With Agency inputs)