Shutterstock: The Taliban continue to celebrate their victory in Kabul.
The previous government official still had the neatly organized office toys and management books on his desk. Their Taliban replacement, however, had made his own executive touches. He also captured a M4 carbine that was once used by an Afghan commando and one of their white religious banners.
The bearded official in his 30s came out in white robes with a black turban and was polite. He offered tea but declined to reveal his name as he didn't have permission and said only that he was a manager.
He told The Telegraph that he was very pleased to be the leaders of the government. We are keen to establish good relations with the rest of the globe. We are open to working with other countries and establishing good relationships.
The Telegraph made an unannounced, relaxed visit to the Taliban's government building. As part of an offensive charm tactic by Islamist leaders, the Telegraph received tea and a warm welcome inside.
The official stated that he was responsible for securing the office of the finance ministry. He did this using a group of Taliban footsoldiers who were wild looking to guard the place.
Many of these fighters came from the insurgency heartlands of Kandahar or Helmand. These rural militiamen, often sporting long turbans and long hair, beards, and weapons, are far removed from the fashionable and sophisticated Kabul residents they serve as watchmen. They either drive around in pickup trucks or guard checkpoints after arriving.
To avoid being caught by the government, I had to sneak into the city as a thief when I used to visit the city. Kapisa fighter said that he couldn't even walk in his own country. He was wearing an orange shawl, camouflage jacket, and stood guard outside the shuttered British Embassy.
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We are now in control. We never imagined that we would win such a great victory.
Taliban fighters now protect the same hotels and ministries they tried to attack just a few weeks back because of the tumultuous events of the last month. A commander from Kandahar's Spin Boldak province spoke into a talkie-talkie to oversee his men as they processed people for appointments.
According to the commander, Nisar was his only name and he claimed he joined the insurgents 18 years ago.
We are proud to be victorious. We fought for twenty years. We demand Islamic law in all countries, not just Afghanistan.
Refusing to learn English
Although he claimed he could speak English fluently, he refused to use it, stating that he didn't want to learn the language of the invaders. He told the Telegraph that he won't speak English because he doesn't like it.
Because the Americans arrived, we had our government and our culture, and then the Americans attacked us. That is why I joined the Taliban.
They did not want to join al-Qaeda.
His fighters have fought mainly in Kandahar, Helmand and elsewhere over the past few years, he stated, adding that they had clashed with British forces many times.
He echoed the sentiments of the movement's spokespersons, saying that the revived emirate would learn lessons from its 1990s predecessor.
A Taliban fighter in uniform stands guard at a Mosque, Kabul, September 3, AFP
There was too much fighting at that time, so there wasn't any chance for us to properly govern. He said that it would be slightly different this time around, but that we still have our Islamic law.
Many people in Kabul don't believe them. Nearly three weeks since the Taliban took over Kabul, Kabul's streets remain quiet but are becoming busier. Particularly women are less visible than they used to be. Under the Taliban's 1990s regime women were forbidden from working outside their home or leaving without a male chaperone. Girls' schools were also banned.
While the commander spoke to The Telegraph about his operations, a small group representing women's rights was protesting in the streets. The militants' special forces fired into the air and dispersed the group. To honor the Afghan soldiers who gave their lives fighting the Taliban, the women's march started peacefully.
The protest film showed the women shouting and being jostled. Later, local news channels showed a woman bleeding from a cut on her head.
The Taliban footsoldiers in Kabul were either incomprehensible at the protests or hostile.
These women have been Westernized and want a Western government. They are also against Islamic law. Islam has a great respect for women. One young Kapisa fighter, also standing outside the British Embassy, asked why protestors were doing so.
Nearly all of them said that they considered the Americans and British invaders and infidels, and that it was impossible for their troops in Afghanistan to stay.
They are infidels, and we don’t want them in our country.
They were curious to have tea with a British journalist. When asked about their salaries, they said they didn't fight for them and they only got food while fighting.
Warning to the West
The emirate will remain forever, as another Nisar fighter chimed in. The West shouldn't come again. We will fight for another twenty years if they do.
The Taliban continued to take control of Kabul and the Taliban clashed with the opposition forces residing in the Panjshir Valley north of the capital.
It was hard to tell how far the Taliban had gotten with all the phone lines cutting off to the remote valley. Emergency, an international aid group, stated that the Taliban had entered the valley as far north as Anabah village. The charity also runs a hospital there.
According to a statement, many people fled their villages in the recent days.
According to a spokesperson for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (which is an opposition force loyal to Ahmad Massoud), Taliban forces crossed the border between Panjshir and Kapisa province at Darband heights, but were stopped by Panjshir.
Taliban forces stand guard at the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul - Reuters
A Taliban source said to Reuters that fighting was still ongoing in Panjshir but that landmines had slowed the advance to Bazarak, the capital of the province.
There were hopes that the country's humanitarian crisis would be alleviated when Qatar's Ambassador to Afghanistan stated that a technical team had been able to reopen Kabul Airport to receive aid.
Qatar's Al Jazeera news channel reported that domestic flights were resumed after the runway at the airport was repaired. It was reported that flights resumed to Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Since the rescue flight of Afghans and foreign nationals to support Ashraf Ghani's government, Kabul airport was closed. Many thousands of Afghans in danger were unable to escape and are trapped, with flights halted and land borders closed or overrun by crowds.
Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said last week that the Gulf state is talking to the Taliban and was working with Turkey to provide technical support for the restart of operations at Kabul's airport.
