mothers, to all of those american mothers, british mothers, mothers of people who send their sons there who would say now, what was all this for? they were engaged in a noble endeavour and what you see today is what they were preventing from happening, what they had revered —— reversed. people lived through hell of the taliban rule. you know it yourself, the civil war from 1992 to 1996. so i think what our soldiers were engaged in was a noble endeavour in the interest of all humanity, and they should be proud of that. but i think what's wrong with western society these days is that we have cheapened and coarsened the war ethos. some citizens think soldiers want pity. soldiers don't

want to be pitied, they have authorship over their own future. what they want is political leadership that is committed to securing an outcome in was, that is worthy of the sacrifices made in combat. what we see now is a weakening of our will and determination. really we defeated ourselves in afghanistan. the taliban are not winning on their own volition, they are winning because we did not sustain the will to continue the effort in the interest of all humanity.— continue the effort in the interest of all humanity. general mcmaster, alwa s of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great _ of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great to _ of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great to talk _ of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great to talk to _ of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great to talk to you. - of all humanity. general mcmaster, always great to talk to you. thank. always great to talk to you. thank you forjoining us on the programme. thanks for having me. this you forjoining us on the programme. thanks for having me.— thanks for having me. this is bbc news, thanks for having me. this is bbc news. i'm — thanks for having me. this is bbc news, i'm yalda _ thanks for having me. this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim _ thanks for having me. this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim with - thanks for having me. this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim with a - thanks for having me. this is bbc- news, i'm yalda hakim with a special programme about the conflict in afghanistan and the future of the country. the taliban takes another provincial capital and closes in on the capital. there are reports from

the peace talks that the taliban have been offered a power—sharing deal. the un is warning of an unfolding disaster as kabul is swamped. we will cross live to kabul for the latest on how the afghan capital is coping with the influx of refugees and hearfrom coping with the influx of refugees and hear from the coping with the influx of refugees and hearfrom the head of the british armed forces on whether afghanistan could become a pariah state if the taliban take full control. i state if the taliban take full control. ~ , ., �* state if the taliban take full control. ~' , ., �* ., ., control. i think they don't want to become north — control. i think they don't want to become north korea, _ control. i think they don't want to become north korea, i— control. i think they don't want to become north korea, i think- control. i think they don't want to become north korea, i think theyi become north korea, i think they know what it might be like to have a flourishing media, civil society, education. flourishing media, civil society, education-— flourishing media, civil society, education. ., , education. pakistan has long been accused of providing _ education. pakistan has long been accused of providing support - education. pakistan has long been accused of providing support to i education. pakistan has long been| accused of providing support to the taliban, a claim denied by islamabad. we will talk live to pakistan's national security adviser.

hello and welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world to this bbc news special on afghanistan, and endless war. in less than a week the taliban have taken over the capitals of more than a quarter of the country's provinces. the violence has resulted in an acute humanitarian crisis, tens of thousands displaced without access to basic resources. from kabul, this report. desperation on a scale not seen in decades. thousands have arrived in kabul in the last few days. people who had homes and jobs, who led dignified lives. forced to leave

everything behind. angry they have been left on their own, no government, no humanitarian agencies. this woman's sons are in the army, she says only the poor go to the battlefield while politicians watch. we have seen this camp grow by the hour, people have been coming in from different parts of the country as more and more provincial capitals and cities are being taken over by the taliban. many of those we have met here have run once, twice, multiple times and now they have come here to afghanistan's capital, kabul. from here they say there is nowhere else to go. to get here, they have survived dangerous

journeys and active front lines. this woman says they moved from one place to another for three days before they got to kabul. she has four children, the youngest is two. this ten—year—old was in school taking her exams when the taliban attacked. many had to leave their dead behind to save their own lives. this man's

parents died in the violence. many here have fled from kunduz, which fell to the taliban on sunday. today in kabul we bumped into these men who we met four weeks ago in kunduz. then, the city was a refuge for tens of thousands of people who fled fighting in villages. now we have learned they —— but in recent days mortar shells landed in these

camps. we don't know what happened to the people we met there. most of the north of the country has been taken over by the taliban now. those who have escaped to kabul are staring at uncertainty, fear is that the capital too could fall within weeks. a really heartbreaking humanitarian crisis unfolding there.— crisis unfolding there. that's ri . ht, crisis unfolding there. that's right. the — crisis unfolding there. that's right. the un _ crisis unfolding there. that's right, the un has _ crisis unfolding there. that's right, the un has called - crisis unfolding there. that's right, the un has called it i crisis unfolding there. that's right, the un has called it a| right, the un has called it a humanitarian catastrophe and this is something we saw thousands of people coming in, and it is with violence surging in many parts of this country, it is only going to get worse. the government is saying they will how's these people in masks and provide them with food, but from what we saw on the ground they were not nearly enough supplies for the

many, many people who were coming in. they will —— they will house mosques. group has taken over the city except for one police base on the outskirts, so their offensive really continuing in the south as well. they already control most of the north of the country. in the south we are seeing in kandahar yesterday, they broke into the centraljail and freed more than 1000 prisoners. in lashkar gah, the capital of helmand province, they took over a police headquarters there which they will see as a major victory. afghan forces are saying they are fiercely defending most of they are fiercely defending most of the major cities, at and they do still control them, but these are battles that are intensifying every

day. battles that are intensifying every da . ., ~' battles that are intensifying every da. . ~ battles that are intensifying every da. . . ., ., day. thank you so much for that u date, day. thank you so much for that update, yogita. _ update, yogita. according to the un, more than 1000 afghan civilians have been killed amid fierce fighting between the taliban and government forces in the past month, while in recent days thousands more have been fleeing their homes. i have been speaking with the head of the british armed forces, general sir nick carter, about the fight against the taliban, the human cost of the conflict. since president biden�*s announcement, the taliban have made dramatic advances. is it time for the west, the americans to rethink their approach when it comes to afghanistan? i their approach when it comes to afghanistan?— afghanistan? i think not necessarily. _ afghanistan? i think not necessarily. i'm - afghanistan? i think not necessarily. i'm a - afghanistan? i think not necessarily. i'm a firm l afghanistan? i think not - necessarily. i'm a firm believer that the afghan security forces that are there and the government as a whole are capable of holding onto those bits of the country that really matter, and i think it's important they do that, because if they do, there's a chance the taliban are more likely to come to

the table because they will recognise they have to find a political compromise. i always go back to the announcement from the joint religious council is about six weeks ago, where the war was declared illegal. ithink weeks ago, where the war was declared illegal. i think the moral high ground can be seized by the afghan government if they are able to hold onto those key bits of afghanistan at the moment. in to hold onto those key bits of afghanistan at the moment. in your view though. _ afghanistan at the moment. in your view though. do _ afghanistan at the moment. in your view though, do that _ afghanistan at the moment. in your view though, do that love _ afghanistan at the moment. in your view though, do that love and - afghanistan at the moment. in your view though, do that love and care | view though, do that love and care about legitimacy or whether something is illegal or not? we are makin: the something is illegal or not? we are making the mistake _ something is illegal or not? we are making the mistake of _ something is illegal or not? we are making the mistake of thinking - something is illegal or not? we are making the mistake of thinking the | making the mistake of thinking the taliban is a homogenous entity, and they are not, indeed there is quite a disconnect between what happens if in the political commission in doha and what happens in the various bits of battlefield in afghanistan where the military commission in all its guises is doing its own thing. we need to be careful not to judge it as a homogenous entity, and i bet you with the amount of success they appear to be having on the battlefield at the moment that they

will be riven with division, because they will be wondering who will be in charge if they win. so i think it is quite difficult to predict any of that. do is quite difficult to predict any of that. , ., ~' is quite difficult to predict any of that. ,, ~ ,., u, that. do you think the political office in doha _ that. do you think the political office in doha is _ that. do you think the political office in doha is redundant? . that. do you think the political l office in doha is redundant? no, that. do you think the political. office in doha is redundant? no, i don't, but — office in doha is redundant? no, i don't, but it _ office in doha is redundant? no, i don't, but it will— office in doha is redundant? no, i don't, but it will be _ office in doha is redundant? no, i don't, but it will be interesting . office in doha is redundant? iifr, i don't, but it will be interesting to see how it tries to bring the rest of the movement together with it, and i think we should be watching to see how that happens. i'm also certain there is a big disparity between what the political commission is saying in public and doing, wandering around doing diplomacy in russia and china. there is a big disparity between that and what's happening on the battlefield where we are seeing atrocities being committed, we are seeing women being brutalised, forced marriages, all sorts of things that taliban were no darius four in the past, and there is a disparity that needs to be called out. is a disparity that needs to be called out-—

is a disparity that needs to be called out. , , , , called out. the un says they still have strong _ called out. the un says they still have strong links _ called out. the un says they still have strong links with _ called out. the un says they still have strong links with al-qaeda, what is your assessment? we are heafina what is your assessment? we are hearing that _ what is your assessment? we are hearing that al-qaeda _ what is your assessment? we are hearing that al-qaeda affiliated l hearing that al-qaeda affiliated fighters are being used on the battlefield so that is a fair assessment. let's face it, if we end “p assessment. let's face it, if we end up with a scenario where state fractures and you end up with a security vacuum, then there is ideal conditions for international terrorism and violent extremism to prosper yet again. pare terrorism and violent extremism to prosper yet again-— prosper yet again. are you worried this could turn _ prosper yet again. are you worried this could turn into _ prosper yet again. are you worried this could turn into another- prosper yet again. are you worried i this could turn into another rwanda? if we end up with it becoming a security vacuum and we end up with the chaos that comes with those sorts of vacuums, all things are possible, but we have to be talking away from that. we have to be getting behind the afghan government and its people at the moment, and encouraging them to show unity and defiance and confidence in their security forces, and to hold onto those provincial capitals that fundamentally mattered to the afghan government's legitimacy. maw;

fundamentally mattered to the afghan government's legitimacy. many people now, government's legitimacy. many people now. experts. — government's legitimacy. many people now, experts, analysts, _ government's legitimacy. many people now, experts, analysts, afghans- now, experts, analysts, afghans themselves, continue to point the finger of lame at pakistan, what is their role in this?— their role in this? pakistan has lived with _ their role in this? pakistan has lived with this _ their role in this? pakistan has lived with this challenge - their role in this? pakistan has lived with this challenge ever i their role in this? pakistan has - lived with this challenge ever since the soviet union invaded afghanistan, and the reality is they have between 1.5 and 3 million afghan refugees on their soil, and they have had for many years now. so from their perspective, they are invested in the outcome. certainly invested in the outcome. certainly in my engagements with my pakistani opposite number, i am in no doubt that he is very genuine when he says he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan. d0 he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan-— he wants a stable and moderate afghanistan. do you not see this unfoldin: afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into _ afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into a _ afghanistan. do you not see this unfolding into a terrible - unfolding into a terrible humanitarian tragedy in the next weeks and months to come? i humanitarian tragedy in the next weeks and months to come? i think we have already — weeks and months to come? i think we have already got _ weeks and months to come? i think we have already got a _ weeks and months to come? i think we have already got a humanitarian - have already got a humanitarian tragedy. the question now is whether it gets worse or not and so much of that depends on how the parties behave and whether the afghan government can bind together the population that it governs bill to

provide real unity and confidence and a real sense of purpose to be defiant. if they can do that, there is every reason to suppose the parties will have to come together to talk about the future at a table. finally, if the taliban do overrun the country and take it by force, will that become a problem for the west? , ., , , ., ., west? there is a big question about the legitimacy _ west? there is a big question about the legitimacy when _ west? there is a big question about the legitimacy when that _ west? there is a big question about the legitimacy when that happens . west? there is a big question about l the legitimacy when that happens and whether the west still wants to support afghanistan if the taliban have seized the country in a fashion thatis have seized the country in a fashion that is obviously illegitimate. that will be a very difficult question for governments to answer. but i'm not sure. do the taliban really want to become a pariah state again? i'm not sure they necessarily do. we have to watch the extent to which the taliban hold together in a homogenous way and whether the words the political commission are talking to at the moment end up being the reality that appears on the ground. do you genuinely think they care about legitimacy? i do you genuinely think they care about legitimacy?—

do you genuinely think they care about legitimacy? i think they don't want to become _ about legitimacy? i think they don't want to become north _ about legitimacy? i think they don't want to become north korea. - about legitimacy? i think they don't want to become north korea. they| want to become north korea. they know they have afghan people now who have seen what it might be like to have seen what it might be like to have a flourishing media, civil society, education, women in work, women in government. they have seen on that. i hope that if trying to govern all afghans, they will take account of that. 50 govern all afghans, they will take account of that.— govern all afghans, they will take account of that. so you've accepted there is a possibility _ account of that. so you've accepted there is a possibility the _ account of that. so you've accepted there is a possibility the taliban - there is a possibility the taliban could come back to power in afghanistan?— could come back to power in afuhanistan? ~ . ., ,, , afghanistan? whatever happens, there surel has to afghanistan? whatever happens, there surely has to be — afghanistan? whatever happens, there surely has to be a _ afghanistan? whatever happens, there surely has to be a political— surely has to be a political compromise and whether that means a taliban government or the yogita. in which power is shared, that remains to be seen. it depends what happens over the next few weeks on the battlefield. but if the people of afghanistan are unified behind that effort and defiant, there's no reason to suppose you can end up with a political compromise that works for the majority of afghans.

general, thank you for your time. that was general carter speaking to me earlier. the role of pakistan is increasingly coming under scrutiny. pakistan has come under scrutiny forces providing support to the taliban in the past and again now. it's a claim strongly denied. prime minister imran khan has reiterated his attempts to broker a peace deal with the taliban, and some claim pakistan is being maligned by regional rivals. let's talk about the situation there. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme, sir. you watch the developments in afghanistan closely, tell us what you think is the reason behind the taliban advance. i the reason behind the taliban advance. ~' ., ., ., , advance. i think the doha deal was not really a — advance. i think the doha deal was not really a deal _ advance. i think the doha deal was not really a deal for _ advance. i think the doha deal was not really a deal for peace - advance. i think the doha deal was not really a deal for peace and - not really a deal for peace and reconciliation, it was a deal for withdrawal of american forces and it

did not talk about taliban sanctuaries in afghanistan which are there for decades, and pakistan is fully supporting taliban, to live and in a way as an instrument of pakistan's policy of strategic depth in afghanistan. i think pakistan is very happy with taliban's advances, pakistani generals, i should say. the government has no role in shaping this policy.— the government has no role in shaping this policy. how concerned are ou if shaping this policy. how concerned are you if the _ shaping this policy. how concerned are you if the taliban _ shaping this policy. how concerned are you if the taliban overrun - shaping this policy. how concerned | are you if the taliban overrun kabul and return to the country? it is and return to the country? it is actually- -- _ and return to the country? it is actually... will _ and return to the country? it is actually... will take _ and return to the country? it 3 actually... will take place in kabul again if that happens and the consequences will not be different from the last time when they were allowed to advance state system in the 1990s, and we had, we would see terror attacks in four continents of the world including 9/11. the

taliban is still accompanied by al-qaeda and other terrorist groups. it is as bad as the appeasement of nazis in the 20th century. the pakistani government and military establishment continue to deny they have trained or harvard or are in support of the taliban. i have trained or harvard or are in support of the taliban.— have trained or harvard or are in support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went— support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went to _ support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went to school _ support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went to school in - support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went to school in a - support of the taliban. i live in an area... i went to school in a place where we can see them, they have bases, this taliban government is sitting here and dozens of dead bodies have come back to pakistan from fighting. in pressure while they have received of dead bodies with flags. it is not a secret but

pakistan generals have lived in denial. ~ ., , pakistan generals have lived in denial. . . pakistan generals have lived in denial. . denial. what is your concern about the security _ denial. what is your concern about the security situation _ denial. what is your concern about the security situation in _ denial. what is your concern about the security situation in pakistan l the security situation in pakistan showed the taliban return? weill. the security situation in pakistan showed the taliban return? well, it will lead to greater _ showed the taliban return? well, it will lead to greater taliban - will lead to greater taliban activity, as it happened in 2007, eight, nine and ten. taliban captured logistics and this will happen again. there have been dozens of attacks in the last two or three weeks. pakistani media is not allowed to discuss this or report this because the generals don't want to give the impression we are facing problems. so i believe it is bad for pakistan. it is a very bad policy, which has harmed pakistan very badly in the past and is going to happen again. we can forget about tourism,

about dual economics. share again. we can forget about tourism, about dual economics.— about dual economics. are you concerned _ about dual economics. are you concerned as _ about dual economics. are you concerned as well— about dual economics. are you concerned as well about - about dual economics. are you concerned as well about the i concerned as well about the humanitarian crisis that could unfold? �* , , . unfold? i'm deeply concerned. unfortunately _ unfold? i'm deeply concerned. unfortunately the _ unfold? i'm deeply concerned. | unfortunately the international community has put us back. i don't see the un activating its agencies and support programme. i don't see repower is going to security council and declaring something concrete. i think our people have been thrown to the wolves —— afghan people. they have been thrown to the terrorists, their women are being abducted, they are being displaced from homes. thousands of them are marching on roads without any support, state support, nongovernmentalsupport, so support, nongovernmental support, so it support, nongovernmentalsupport, so it is a bad situation and we are deeply concerned. {lilia it is a bad situation and we are deeply concerned.— it is a bad situation and we are deeply concerned. it is a bad situation and we are

deel concerned. ., ~ , ., , deeply concerned. 0k, thank you very much forjoining _ deeply concerned. 0k, thank you very much forjoining us _ deeply concerned. 0k, thank you very much forjoining us on _ deeply concerned. 0k, thank you very much forjoining us on the _ much forjoining us on the programme, mr khattak. we have heard how blame for the crisis is being directed at pakistan, so what is their response to this? i'm joined ljy their response to this? i'm joined by pakistan's national security adviser, mr yousef. thanks for joining us, wejust heard from mr khattak, who is pointing the finger of blame at pakistan. what is your response to that?— of blame at pakistan. what is your response to that? thank you. first of all i response to that? thank you. first of all i was — response to that? thank you. first of all i was not _ response to that? thank you. first of all i was not informed _ response to that? thank you. first of all i was not informed that - response to that? thank you. first of all i was not informed that i - response to that? thank you. firstj of all i was not informed that i was here to respond, i was told i was here to respond, i was told i was here to respond, i was told i was here to speak to you on the position we have. in any case it has been done now and i don't think it should be done in this way. we can continue this conversation. we saw trends on twitter saying pakistan is the problem, sanction pakistan. we looked into that. we can continue

this conversation, we have a country in crisis. afghanistan every single day a city is falling. there is violence. the world needs to focus on how to get to a political settlement immediately so that afghan lives are spared. we can play the blame game, that is fine, we can continue doing that. right now pakistan's only focus is on peace, elliptical settlement, working with the us and other international community members who seem to have abandoned afghanistan yet again, to try and convince them that we cannot sit on the sidelines, we have to make this happen for the sake of the average afghan. i’m make this happen for the sake of the average afghan-— average afghan. i'm 'ust going to “um in average afghan. i'm 'ust going to jump in there h average afghan. i'm just going to jump in there because _ average afghan. i'm just going to jump in there because what - average afghan. i'm just going to jump in there because what mr i jump in there because what mr khattak was saying, and i know you don't want to directly respond, but he was saying the civilian government in pakistan is a very different entity to the security

establishment and it is the security establishment and it is the security establishment that our funding, harbouring and supporting and training the taliban. the interior minister of pakistan injune said the taliban live here in pakistan, sometimes their dead bodies arrive and sometimes they come here in hospitals to get medical treatment. yes, ma'am. these people, their parents were afghan refugees, some were born in pakistan, some married in pakistan because the world abandoned afghanistan as it is doing now and we had to deal with these people. pakistan has 3.5 million refugees even today in our country. no other country has been so generous. let me also make this clear... ~ , ., generous. let me also make this clear... ~ i. ., ~ generous. let me also make this clear... ~ ., ~ ., clear... when you talk about the sanctuaries _ clear... when you talk about the sanctuaries that _ clear... when you talk about the sanctuaries that exist, _ clear... when you talk about the sanctuaries that exist, the - clear... when you talk about the l sanctuaries that exist, the former head of pakistan's intelligence service said when pakistan was at ask about whether it was playing

double game, he said we have many games with balls up in the air and we don't deal with things in a straight line. sometimes people are our friends straight line. sometimes people are ourfriends and straight line. sometimes people are our friends and sometimes they are the former president has said we use the former president has said we use the taliban as part of a proxy war in afghanistan. if the taliban as part of a proxy war in afghanistan.— the taliban as part of a proxy war in afghanistan. if you allow me to resond, in afghanistan. if you allow me to respond. it _ in afghanistan. if you allow me to respond, it would _ in afghanistan. if you allow me to respond, it would be _ in afghanistan. if you allow me to respond, it would be good. - in afghanistan. if you allow me to respond, it would be good. first i in afghanistan. if you allow me to l respond, it would be good. first of all the first gentleman retired about 20 years ago when pakistan and the us and the uk were in this great war against the soviet union which pakistan worked with the west on, and it was eulogised on. suddenly we are talking about terrorism. i don't want to talk about the past. let me say this simply, pakistan stands for peace and only peace. the regions in afghanistan that have fallen to the taliban happen to be on the other side of afghanistan, in the west. evenif side of afghanistan, in the west. even if you were to create an allegation, it should be logical.

the logic is very simple. you say people go from here, let me give you some facts. pakistan has fenced the entire border, pakistan has said let's put biometrics so we know every single person crossing. afghanistan government refused. fencing they opposed. pakistan is saying let's go to a visa regime so no illegal crossing can happen. afghan government not for it. if there was anybody doing this, would we be manning the border or would afghanistan be eager to close it? sincerity on the other side needs to be looked at. sincerity on the other side needs to be looked at— be looked at. unfortunately we 'ust have a few seconds i be looked at. unfortunately we 'ust have a few seconds left * be looked at. unfortunately we 'ust have a few seconds left on i be looked at. unfortunately we 'ust have a few seconds left on the h have a few seconds left on the programme, but thank you very much forjoining us on the programme. that was afghanistan special here on bbc world news, and endless war. we will be continuing our coverage, thank you very much forjoining us here for this special. we will be backin here for this special. we will be

back in the next few minutes. low pressure is continuing to sweep into the north—west of the country bringing rain and blustery showers. we could see some isobars on the chart across northern and western areas so it will be windy. the further south you are though, it should stay largely dry but it will be variable amounts of cloud. through this evening and tonight, many places will be dry, with wind across the north and west of the uk and further showers or longer spells of rain, some of which will be quite heavy. furthersouth of rain, some of which will be quite heavy. further south variable tiled but lengthy clear spells. a breezy night for all, gusts of wind. double figures for all and a milder night

to come across the north of the uk compared to the previous night. we still have this weather front across southern areas which will bring patchy cloud but will tend to fizzle out and for much of england and wales, friday looked decent with good spells of sunshine. some sunny spells in between but showers could be heavy and thundery, particularly for western scotland. temperatures high teens in the north but we could make the mid 20s in the warmer spots across the south. the weekend looks pretty mixed, it looks like we will have a low pressure edging in from the north—west and that will spoil things a little bit, introducing more cloud, and we could see rain at times. here it is slowly moving on from the west. here is the picture for saturday, some uncertainty, but it looks like it could bring more in the way of cloud for england and wales, may be some spots of rain, but still sunshine in places and scotland looking better with sunny

spells. temperatures in the high teens in the north. we could make the low 20s in the south given some sunshine. a mixed picture again on sunday, still some uncertainty with the forecast. this low pressure could introduce again some cloud, some showers across the far north of the country, central areas and the south. in between there will be some sunshine. where you get that, it will feel warm in the low to mid 20 celsius. cooler though in the north. into next week it looks like high pressure wants to build in, that will settle things down with some sunshine but it will feel cool with winds coming in from the north—west.

this is bbc news. the headlines. oh, my gosh! gcse students in england, wales and northern ireland are awarded record grades after exams were cancelled for a second year. some teachers say the assessments are more accurate than exams. they have been assessed and awarded results on the merits of what they have produced, and that can't be taken away from them. a change in self—isolation rules in northern ireland — the bbc understands fully vaccinated people who are a close contact of a covid case will no longer have to stay at home. the nhs waiting list in england hits a record high of almost 5.5 million. in afghanistan, taliban fighters have captured the city of ghazni — the tenth provincial capital they've seized in recent days —

but could taliban rule see a return to strict sharia law?