Taliban takes Afghanistan - 18th August 2021

The Taliban has captured Afghanistan again. They used to rule the country 20 years ago. They captured the city of Jalalabad then moved to the capital, Kabul. The Afghan government did not stop them.

The Taliban has moved quickly and surprised everyone. The Afghan president wanted to have peace talks with the Taliban. But the Taliban moved quickly, so the president escaped the country. Afghanistan's capital was unprotected.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan for five years until 2001. They made strict rules and followed Sharia law. Women couldn't go to school or go outside without a male family member. Also, they had to wear the burqa. Anyone who broke the law could be killed in public.

Afghan people are worried that these laws will return with the Taliban. They are also worried that people who worked with the Afghan government and foreign soldiers will be punished. So, many people are trying to escape the country.

At the airport, many British and American soldiers have been helping foreigners and embassy staff to leave the country. But not all foreign nationals might get to leave safely, because the Taliban is moving fast. Embassies have closed and governments are trying to get all their citizens out of the country quickly.