Afghan youth are wary of Taliban’s return

They fear they’ll lose the freedoms that were restored after the militants’ ouster

Afghan model Sultan Qasim Sayeedi in Kabul.

Afghanistan’s Generation Z has grown up in a 17-year window shadowed by warfare and a heavy international presence, but now faces an uncertain future and the possibility of stark change.

For the young of Kabul and other cities, there is much to lose, in particular the freedoms restored after the Taliban was ousted — from playing music, to modelling and adopting trendy haircuts. “The thing I’m most worried about is that if they return, I’ll not be able to continue playing music,” said Maram Atayee, a 16-year-old pianist who attends music school in Kabul.

Sense of hope

However, the peace talks have also given young people a sense of hope. “I am optimistic about the Taliban joining the peace process,” said Hussain, 19, who like many young Afghans grew up in neighbouring Iran where millions have taken refuge from war. He now works as a hairdresser in Kabul. “It will be an end to the war and conflicts in our country. I want the Taliban to change their policy and not behave like before.”

Afghanistan has a strikingly young population, with more than 60% of its 35 million people under the age of 25, and half under the age of 15, according to the UN population agency.

Sultan Qasim Sayeedi, an 18-year-old model, sports a hairstyle with shaven sides and a slicked back front called a ”sinpogh”. He scours Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to learn about fashion and modelling and draws inspiration from his favourite models, including Saudi Arabia’s Omar Borkan, and Canadian popstar Justin Bieber.

‘We’re afraid’

“We’re afraid that if the Taliban come then we will not be able to hold our shows,” he said. Despite that wariness, he says it’s time the fighting ended. “If American troops will go peace will come, we want peace.”

Maryam Ghulami, a 20-year-old living in Herat, says that her generation will bring change that her parents never could. She is learning graphic design and computer coding at an online academy. While she believes Afghanistan faces many problems, she has faith that her generation can bring change. “The new generation can change Afghanistan with knowledge, with technology,” she said.