hello, i'm yalda hakim. welcome to this bbc news special programme on afghanistan — 100 days after the taliban returned to power. taliban forces captured kabul on 15th august, emboldened by the withdrawal of foreign troops. in the one hundred days since then, how much has changed? afghanistan's democratically—elected government was replaced by an unelected, caretaker cabinet

made up exclusively of men who are senior taliban figures. several of them are on a un sanctions list aimed at those who pose a threat to international peace. despite taliban assurances about access to education, only male students were told to return to secondary schools in september. the taliban have said they are working on a way of allowing girls to go back to high schools. a month into the taliban's rule, the un warned that the country was at risk of "universal poverty". the un's migration chief says 80% of afghans they have surveyed from almost 4,000 communities, said they had lost their livelihoods. the un's world food programme warned in october that 22.8 million people in afghanistan could face acute hunger this winter, with 8.7 million already in urgent need of food aid. they say that drought, displacement, the collapse of public services and an economic crisis are pushing the country to a precipice. i've been talking to ordinary

afghans about how the growing humanitarian crisis is affecting them. this is affecting them. is my report. at the food distribution centre in south—east kabul, the hungry wait. this is a nation on the brink of starvation. and for aid agencies, it's a race against time. emotions begin to run high. nafisa has arrived with her disabled son, pleading for help. the world food programme says they're doing everything they can, but it's not enough. nafisa tells me she's desperate.

the taliban says the world needs to act. the international community has a hand in that, because they have imposed sanctions and other steps, which has led to a humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. i think there are many in the international community and other countries who are speaking

about human rights and educating of human rights, they have such claims. they should reconsider, not take steps which lead to a humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. and these are the faces of the crisis. we've just come to the indira gandhi children's hospital, where there are many cases of children suffering from acute malnutrition. gulnara is three, so weak she can barely open her eyes. marwa is nearly one. it's notjust patients suffering. health care staff haven't been paid for months.

every single person i'm speaking to has the same story. they can't pay for their ticket to come here, they can't pay for theirfood here. and she was just saying that someday they may have to admit her here as a malnutrition patient herself, because she doesn't know where she's going to get her next meal from. even before the taliban came to power, there was a humanitarian crisis in this country. drought, aid cuts and the economic collapse have turned crisis into catastrophe. with me now is abdul qahar balkhi, spokesperson for afghanistan's ministry of foregin affairs. afghanistan of foregin affairs. is facing a humanitarian crisis. afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis. the un says it is a march towards catastrophe. how does the taliban hope to tackle this situation?— taliban hope to tackle this situation? , ., ., ., ~ , ., situation? first of all, thank you for having _ situation? first of all, thank you

for having me. _ situation? first of all, thank you for having me. as _ situation? first of all, thank you for having me. as for— situation? first of all, thank you for having me. as for the - situation? first of all, thank you | for having me. as for the current difficult phase that afghanistan is facing, it is true, the situation has been inherited by the new government of afghanistan from the previous administration, as well as the foreign forces that were present here. we are doing our best with the circumstances that we find ourselves in. and we are trying to mitigate the effects of this humanitarian crisis that is unfolding. we have tried to facilitate humanitarian organisations into coming in and giving out assistance to those who are most at need. and in terms of the work of the government, we have provided electricity, we have brought in liquefied gas in order

for the people to keep warm, we have provided salaries for one month of our civil servants, and the cabinet has decided that they will also be paying three months salary that were over due to the government employees. over due to the government employees-_ over due to the government employees. over due to the government emlo ees. ,, , .,, ., employees. this seems to be a band-aid _ employees. this seems to be a band-aid solution. _ employees. this seems to be a band-aid solution. you - employees. this seems to be a band-aid solution. you need . employees. this seems to be a | band-aid solution. you need to employees. this seems to be a - band-aid solution. you need to have band—aid solution. you need to have the funds unfrozen and you need to be fully to be able to come back into the country, as well as people to be able to access their bank accounts. but the united states say they are not going to do this until certain conditions are met. i they are not going to do this until certain conditions are met. i don't know the conditions, _ certain conditions are met. i don't know the conditions, neither - certain conditions are met. i don't know the conditions, neither has l know the conditions, neither has anyone said anything about conditions. it is true that currently the world is trying to treat the symptoms of the problems of afghanistan, which actually stem and take root from the asset freeze

by the united states as well as the sanctions placed on our banking systems, which unfortunately has been made worse due to the fact that officials of the previous administration, they basically stole all of the money from the banks before leaving the country. unfortunately, that money is going back into western nations where they are living a luxurious life where the people of afghanistan who they claim they want to help and they claim they want to help and they claim they want to help and they claim they care about our unfortunately suffering a very dire situation. ., ., ., situation. the international community _ situation. the international community says, _ situation. the international community says, and - situation. the international community says, and the l situation. the international- community says, and the united states says, they don't want to give funds directly to the taliban because they are concerned about things like security, international terrorism, treatment of women, girls returning back to school, and inclusive government, how do you

respond to that? this inclusive government, how do you respond to that?— respond to that? this is the right ofthe respond to that? this is the right of the afghan _ respond to that? this is the right of the afghan people, _ respond to that? this is the right of the afghan people, this - respond to that? this is the right of the afghan people, this is - respond to that? this is the right of the afghan people, this is the | of the afghan people, this is the right of the afghan people. the assets are ours. not of the government, perse, but to assets are ours. not of the government, per se, but to frame this in terms that this is somehow ourfault is quite this in terms that this is somehow our fault is quite disingenuous, this in terms that this is somehow ourfault is quite disingenuous, it is a travesty ofjustice. inn? our fault is quite disingenuous, it is a travesty ofjustice._ our fault is quite disingenuous, it is a travesty ofjustice. is a travesty of 'ustice. why do you sa that? is a travesty ofjustice. why do you say that? because _ is a travesty ofjustice. why do you say that? because the _ is a travesty ofjustice. why do you say that? because the situation . is a travesty ofjustice. why do you | say that? because the situation that has been brought _ say that? because the situation that has been brought about _ say that? because the situation that has been brought about in _ has been brought about in afghanistan and the dire humanitarian situation we are facing is the work, let us frame it as the achievements, of the past 20 years. we never wanted the situation. all we did was fight for our freedom, to gain our independence from an occupation, and for others to come

and dictate our life to the afghans, thatis and dictate our life to the afghans, that is not the solution to the problem. the solution to the problem is not pressure tactics, the solution to the problems at hand is through cooperation, positive relations, and is through encouragement to bring about a situation where all of us can work together. situation where all of us can work to . ether. ~ situation where all of us can work touether. ~ ., ., ., together. when the international community _ together. when the international community says _ together. when the international community says it _ together. when the international community says it needs - together. when the international community says it needs to - together. when the international community says it needs to be i together. when the international community says it needs to be a| community says it needs to be a government selected by the afghan people in order for them government selected by the afghan people in orderfor them to government selected by the afghan people in order for them to deal with the afghan government or the future afghan government, is this something that the taliban is willing to work towards? each country has — willing to work towards? each country has its _ willing to work towards? each country has its own _ willing to work towards? each country has its own unique . country has its own unique situation. no country can impose a system, even though it was tried by the western countries, unfortunately, by nato, by the united states, to impose a system

which the people were not ready to accept. it is a fact that the afghan people rejected the system that was in place earlier and they have themselves chosen willingly, collectively the system that is currently in place, that has brought about peace and stability after 45 years of war, of chaos, of islands of power. we finally have a centralised government, a government thatis centralised government, a government that is responsible in its actions and is accountable for its actions. let's give this government a chance, let's not punish the people of afghanistan for which they have no hand in. they want to live their lives in line with their own heritage, their culture, their religious beliefs. impositions and measure tactics have not worked. let

us all have collective humanity prevail over this unfortunate situation that we are seeing at the moment. ., ., situation that we are seeing at the moment. ., ~ , ., situation that we are seeing at the moment. ., ~' , ., , situation that we are seeing at the moment. ., ~ , ., , . situation that we are seeing at the moment. ., ~ ,, , . ., _, moment. thank you very much for your time. that moment. thank you very much for your time- that was — moment. thank you very much for your time. that was the _ moment. thank you very much for your time. that was the spokesperson - moment. thank you very much for your time. that was the spokesperson for i time. that was the spokesperson for afghanistan's ministry of foreign affairs. i'm joined now by dr margaret harris, spokesperson for the world health organization, who is currently here in kabul. thank you very much for your time. you were listening to the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs for afghanistan. he said give this government a chance. that they shouldn't be punished for the actions of the past. but from where you are standing and what you are seeing the afghan people go through, just give us an assessment of how you see the situation 100 days since the taliban swept to power? days since the taliban swept to ower? ., , days since the taliban swept to ower? . , ., , days since the taliban swept to ower? . , .,, ,, days since the taliban swept to ower? ., , .,, y., 4' ., ~ power? certainly, as you know, who estate and has _ power? certainly, as you know, who estate and has continued _ power? certainly, as you know, who estate and has continued to - power? certainly, as you know, who

estate and has continued to deliver l estate and has continued to deliver help to _ estate and has continued to deliver help to ensure continuity of the essential— help to ensure continuity of the essential health services to save lives _ essential health services to save lives we — essential health services to save lives. we are seeing a population that has— lives. we are seeing a population that has enormous stresses on it because — that has enormous stresses on it because of— that has enormous stresses on it because of the inability to access their_ because of the inability to access their funds, because of the inability to access theirfunds, their because of the inability to access their funds, their salary, their banking — their funds, their salary, their banking funds. there was already severe _ banking funds. there was already severe malnutrition prior to the administration, and that is only got worse _ administration, and that is only got worse from — administration, and that is only got worse from the sense that at least 3 million _ worse from the sense that at least 3 million people are suffering severe acute _ million people are suffering severe acute malnutrition. we know that that means those children are incredibly at risk of any infectious disease _ incredibly at risk of any infectious disease that comes through, and now we have _ disease that comes through, and now we have a _ disease that comes through, and now we have a winter. as you know, it is cold here, _ we have a winter. as you know, it is cold here, people don't have heating. _ cold here, people don't have heating, a lot of people don't have sheiter~ _ heating, a lot of people don't have shelter. and people are still waiting _ shelter. and people are still waiting for their salaries will stop people _ waiting for their salaries will stop people are coming to work, the hospitals — people are coming to work, the hospitals as you have seen, the nurses— hospitals as you have seen, the nurses and _ hospitals as you have seen, the nurses and doctors are turning out even _ nurses and doctors are turning out even though they haven't been paid

for months, they are turning up in cold hospitals where things break down _ cold hospitals where things break down all— cold hospitals where things break down all the time because the support— down all the time because the support that they had is not there now _ support that they had is not there now so _ support that they had is not there now so we — support that they had is not there now. so we have come in to help support— now. so we have come in to help support the — now. so we have come in to help support the primary care system which _ support the primary care system which comprises 331 facilities. we and unicef, throughout the country, because _ and unicef, throughout the country, because these provide the main access— because these provide the main access to — because these provide the main access to healthcare. and that comes because _ access to healthcare. and that comes because there has been a pause in funding, _ because there has been a pause in funding, so— because there has been a pause in funding, so we have taken over as of this month — funding, so we have taken over as of this month. but this is not sustainable. we really do need a lot of support— sustainable. we really do need a lot of support from donors and the international community much wider than the _ international community much wider than the un... international community much wider than the un---_ international community much wider than the un... when we say that, and this is something _ than the un... when we say that, and this is something that _ than the un... when we say that, and this is something that we _ than the un... when we say that, and this is something that we have - than the un... when we say that, and this is something that we have been l this is something that we have been hearing over and over again, that ultimately it is the ordinary afghan people who are being punished by these sorts of sanctions and freezing of assets. but what should and can at the international

community do at this point? do you think that they should be continuing to bypass the taliban or engaging with them? 50. to bypass the taliban or engaging with them? ., , ., with them? so, we as health, we continue to _ with them? so, we as health, we continue to work— with them? so, we as health, we continue to work with _ with them? so, we as health, we continue to work with all - continue to work with all administrations and all powers in any country, because our purpose is to protect _ any country, because our purpose is to protect the health of people. and we have _ to protect the health of people. and we have found a way to ensure that we have found a way to ensure that we can _ we have found a way to ensure that we can use — we have found a way to ensure that we can use un funding at this time to keep— we can use un funding at this time to keep the health facilities, the primary— to keep the health facilities, the primary health facilities i was talking — primary health facilities i was talking about, going. that is really a stopgap— talking about, going. that is really a stopgap measure. we have to look at how _ a stopgap measure. we have to look at how this _ a stopgap measure. we have to look at how this continue and be done properly. — at how this continue and be done properly, and for that we really do need _ properly, and for that we really do need the _ properly, and for that we really do need the international community to look at _ need the international community to look at how— need the international community to look at how you can do this creatively to ensure that the afghan people _ creatively to ensure that the afghan people are not punished.— people are not punished. doctor harris, people are not punished. doctor harris. you _ people are not punished. doctor harris, you are _ people are not punished. doctor harris, you are in _ people are not punished. doctor harris, you are in kabul, - people are not punished. doctor harris, you are in kabul, i'm - people are not punished. doctor harris, you are in kabul, i'm in i harris, you are in kabul, i'm in kabul, it is visible all over the city. the hunger. i went to a food distribution centre, and i saw how

incredibly desperate the afghan people are. it is all over this country. i was in kandahar. we see the same picture. how bad do you think things are going to get? tote think things are going to get? we fear thati million think things are going to get? we fear that 1 million children could die before a christmas, and when people _ die before a christmas, and when people are — die before a christmas, and when people are sitting with their families around their christmas dinner— families around their christmas dinner i— families around their christmas dinner i really would like them to think— dinner i really would like them to think about that, everyone. these children— think about that, everyone. these children should not be dying, and these _ children should not be dying, and these children are our future. chitdren— these children are our future. children around the world are our future _ children around the world are our future so— children around the world are our future so it _ children around the world are our future. so it could get a lot worse. we know _ future. so it could get a lot worse. we know that respiratory infections come _ we know that respiratory infections come into— we know that respiratory infections come into a population like this and they can _ come into a population like this and they can he — come into a population like this and they can be a killing ground for infectious _ they can be a killing ground for infectious diseases when you have -ot infectious diseases when you have got so _ infectious diseases when you have got so many other stresses making you so— got so many other stresses making you so weak. as you also know, the afghan _ you so weak. as you also know, the afghan people are extraordinary, extraordinarily optimistic, but you cannot— extraordinarily optimistic, but you cannot keep asking people to suffer the way—

cannot keep asking people to suffer the way they are suffering. we all must _ the way they are suffering. we all must help — the way they are suffering. we all must hel. �* the way they are suffering. we all must help-— must help. and he pointed out earlier, about _ must help. and he pointed out earlier, about the _ must help. and he pointed out earlier, about the health - must help. and he pointed out earlier, about the health care | earlier, about the health care workers. to think that people are not getting a salary and, with great difficulty, i spoke with health care workers who said they walked for hours to get to work, because if they don't go to work the patients, they don't go to work the patients, the children will die. find they don't go to work the patients, the children will die.— the children will die. and that is exactly what — the children will die. and that is exactly what i've _ the children will die. and that is exactly what i've heard - the children will die. and that is exactly what i've heard as - the children will die. and that is exactly what i've heard as well. | the children will die. and that is - exactly what i've heard as well. not only that, _ exactly what i've heard as well. not only that, i — exactly what i've heard as well. not only that, i was in a main maternity hospital. _ only that, i was in a main maternity hospital. the — only that, i was in a main maternity hospital, the paediatrician there showed — hospital, the paediatrician there showed me how the cobble together an incubator— showed me how the cobble together an incubator because one bit broke and he put _ incubator because one bit broke and he put the _ incubator because one bit broke and he put the other bit, and how he was trying _ he put the other bit, and how he was trying to— he put the other bit, and how he was trying to fix _ he put the other bit, and how he was trying to fix the drip on a tiny little — trying to fix the drip on a tiny little newborn to make sure it didn't — little newborn to make sure it didn't overload this child, but he didn't— didn't overload this child, but he didn't have — didn't overload this child, but he didn't have a pump to make it work. that guy— didn't have a pump to make it work. that guy also brings in dinner for the staff— that guy also brings in dinner for the staff because the night duty staff cannot go out and get food and the hospital has no food, either for the hospital has no food, either for the patients or the star. and yet they— the patients or the star. and yet

they come _ the patients or the star. and yet they come. they were there. they werent— they come. they were there. they weren't there because i was visiting, _ weren't there because i was visiting, they are there everyday. they— visiting, they are there everyday. they quite — visiting, they are there everyday. they quite extraordinary. the}r they quite extraordinary. they really are- _ they quite extraordinary. they really are. and _ they quite extraordinary. they really are. and the _ they quite extraordinary. they really are. and the other - they quite extraordinary. tue: really are. and the other thing they quite extraordinary. he really are. and the other thing that is quite worrying is that when you talk about infectious diseases, actually these are preventable infectious diseases, but because of the malnutrition, once a child get measles, and i saw an outbreak in a hospital in kabul, thatjust adds to the problem is that these children face. .. , , the problem is that these children face. , , , face. exactly. in the west, people think of the _ face. exactly. in the west, people think of the measles _ face. exactly. in the west, people think of the measles as _ face. exactly. in the west, people think of the measles as not - face. exactly. in the west, people think of the measles as not a - face. exactly. in the west, people think of the measles as not a nice disease _ think of the measles as not a nice disease to— think of the measles as not a nice disease to have, but they don't worry— disease to have, but they don't worry much about it. here, it is a death— worry much about it. here, it is a death sentence in a child that is malnourished. we are planning a measles — malnourished. we are planning a measles vaccination campaign for that very— measles vaccination campaign for that very reason, because we are very— that very reason, because we are very concerned about the measles outbreak — very concerned about the measles outbreak. this is one of the impressive things. there's been an effective _ impressive things. there's been an effective campaign that reach children— effective campaign that reach children that haven't been reached for three _ children that haven't been reached

for three years because they are in an accessible regions. we have also seen covid—19 vaccination throughout the country — seen covid—19 vaccination throughout the country. 4 million people have been _ the country. 4 million people have been vaccinated and we hope that more _ been vaccinated and we hope that more covid—19 vaccines will come. so people _ more covid—19 vaccines will come. so people are _ more covid—19 vaccines will come. so people are doing what, really, would see the _ people are doing what, really, would see the impossible. that is why i say that— see the impossible. that is why i say that everyone help in any way you cah — say that everyone help in any way ou can. ., ., say that everyone help in any way oucan. ., ., ., , you can. doctor margaret harris, spokesperson — you can. doctor margaret harris, spokesperson for _ you can. doctor margaret harris, spokesperson for the _ you can. doctor margaret harris, spokesperson for the who, - you can. doctor margaret harris, | spokesperson for the who, thank you can. doctor margaret harris, - spokesperson for the who, thank you for your time and sharing your thoughts here on the programme. i'm joined now by asad majeed khan, pakistan's ambassador to the united states. we have been hearing this half hour from the world health organisation, we are seeing images of children suffering from malnutrition. how can pakistan, afghanistan's neighbour, pakistan, afg hanistan's neighbour, help pakistan, afghanistan's neighbour, help in this dire situation? thank

ou ve help in this dire situation? thank you very much — help in this dire situation? thank you very much first _ help in this dire situation? thank you very much first of— help in this dire situation? thank you very much first of all- help in this dire situation? thank you very much first of all for- you very much first of all for having me. pakistan is doing all it can, actually, already. in terms of extending a hand of help to our afghan brothers. we have facilitated their movement, those who need medical assistance are allowed to basically cross our border. we have facilitated the issuance of visas, we have provided humanitarian assistance worth 5 billion rupees, there is more in the works. we have sentin there is more in the works. we have sent in supplies. so we are doing... we are also facilitating international humanitarian organisations. the un system agencies, in terms of getting into afghanistan and provisioning humanitarian supplies to afghanistan.— humanitarian supplies to afuhanistan. �* ~ ., afghanistan. but, ambassador, if you look at your—

afghanistan. but, ambassador, if you look at your border, _ afghanistan. but, ambassador, if you look at your border, you _ afghanistan. but, ambassador, if you look at your border, you say - afghanistan. but, ambassador, if you look at your border, you say you - look at your border, you say you give safe passage for those who are suffering from medical conditions and other such cases, but it is utter chaos. it is heartbreaking to see what is happening to the desperate afghans on the borders with afghanistan —— pakistan. i think our border crossings are open. pakistan is perhaps the only country in the region that is actually allowing smooth crossover from our border. the normal traffic actually has started to flow. so i don't know what chaotic conditions you are referring to. what chaotic conditions you are referring to— what chaotic conditions you are referrin: to. �* , ., , referring to. i've seen some really chaotic and _ referring to. i've seen some really chaotic and disorganised - referring to. i've seen some really chaotic and disorganised images l referring to. i've seen some really| chaotic and disorganised images of people packed in as they try to cross those borders. if we look at the situation in afghanistan, i have been here for several weeks now and the anger towards pakistan, the

feeling that pakistan was somehow assisting the taliban before the takeover and the fall of the government, still very much exists. what do you say to the afghan people? i what do you say to the afghan eo - le? .. what do you say to the afghan --eole? ~ .~ , ., ., people? i think pakistan, we are doinu people? i think pakistan, we are doing even _ people? i think pakistan, we are doing even today, _ people? i think pakistan, we are doing even today, pakistan - people? i think pakistan, we are doing even today, pakistan is . doing even today, pakistan is basically... pakistan is still the destination of choice for those who are trying to basically get out of afghanistan. we are still today one of the major providers of humanitarian assistance. so i think this impression, if anyone has, because we are not getting that kind of impression or a vibe from the afghan people. and also, in terms of

this situation on the ground, we received the taliban foreign minister, we are in conversation with the taliban leadership, and we really haven't received any feedback on the lines you have just indicated. i on the lines you have 'ust miami on the lines you have 'ust indicated. . �* ., ., ~ indicated. i mean, i'm not talking about the taliban _ indicated. i mean, i'm not talking about the taliban leadership, - indicated. i mean, i'm not talking l about the taliban leadership, which of course pakistan has always had a very close relationship with. i am talking about ordinary afghans here who have often been quite frustrated with pakistan's stance towards afghanistan. with pakistan's stance towards afghanistan-— with pakistan's stance towards afghanistan. really, i think it is not about pakistan. _ afghanistan. really, i think it is not about pakistan. it _ afghanistan. really, i think it is not about pakistan. it is - afghanistan. really, i think it is not about pakistan. it is about i not about pakistan. it is about afghan people. i think what the international community needs to do is avoid an economic collapse and a complete meltdown of authority in afghanistan. and we clearly see a

challenge in afghanistan. for that, really, the entire world should come together, the international community should step up, because if you look at what has happened over the last 90 days here, i see a number of good things, although it is a mixed bag. the taliban have helped with the evacuations, there are tens of thousands who have come out of afghanistan. they have started issuing passports, normal traffic and started to flow, they have maintained security. we can see for the first time in 20 years traffic across afghanistan into central asia has been restored. roadblocks have been removed. they will only start to appreciate that as things to further develop in the right direction. the taliban have shown a clear commitment to fight

isis and they have literally ran after the international community and attended every conference they have been invited to. so i think these are all positive developments which we believe would basically contribute to improving the lot of the common afghan, and of course the taliban are short on inclusivity perhaps, they are not moving as fast as they should on women rights... indeed. ambassador, i've only got 20 seconds left on the programme but i would like to thank you forjoining us here on the programme. that was ambassador asad majeed khan, joining us from the united states. i will be backin us from the united states. i will be back in the next few minutes to continue our special on afghanistan,

100 days since the fall of kabul. good afternoon. today is one of the calmer, milder days of the week, certainly compared to some of what is to come. because it is going to turn colder with, yes, some rain, but also possibly some sleet and snow at times. — the potentialfor a really stormy end to the week. but for the time being, things are relatively quiet. quite windy across the north of the uk. big areas of cloud floating around, the potential of some fog patches

down to the south—east and this band of rain working and across parts of scotland and northern ireland by the end of the night. temperatures for most of us hovering above freezing. tomorrow, we will have this band of rain. the best of the sunshine across eastern and southern areas. and cold front which will be pushing then, as we head through this its way southwards and eastwards. and temperatures for most of us hovering just above freezing. be turning colder. so tomorrow, then, we will have this band of rain, a cold front which will be pushing its way southwards and eastwards. and as the name suggests, the air behind this front will be turning colder — as we start to develop a northerly wind. some showers for coastal parts, and wintry showers over high ground in northern scotland. and temperatures in single digits for just about all of us. and then we get to friday, and this is friday's weather maker — a deep area of low pressure diving down from the north,

heavy rain and strong winds. but with some cold air wrapping into this weather system, there is the potentialfor some of the rain to turn to sleet and snow. and it really depends upon just how cold the air gets. so, yes, we will see areas of showery rain sinking southwards, perhaps sleet and snow, especially over high ground but possibly to low levels, especially in northern scotland. it is going to be a very cold day and a very windy day. in fact, we could see damaging winds developing in places during friday night. gales possible, especially towards the north and east. the threat of windy and wintry weather — it's worth staying tuned to the forecast.

hello, you're watching bbc news, i'm kasia madera. in a moment we'll be returning to our special programme on afghanistan to mark 100 days since the taliban returned to power. but first, let's take a look at some of today's other news. 46 people have died in bulgaria after a tourist bus crashed and burst into flames on a motorway in the middle of the night. the passengers were all from north macedonia, returning from a weekend in turkey. twelve of the victims are children. only seven passengers escaped. china has warned all taiwanese companies trading on the mainland that they'll be punished if they support the island's independence movement. it follows one of the biggest conglomerates in taiwan,

the far eastern group, being fined in a case that beijing has linked to the firm's political stance. in the uk, hundreds of politicians have joined the family of the murdered mp sir david amess for a mass in his memory at westminster cathedral. sir david was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in his southend west constituency last month. on monday, hundreds of people turned out as a memorial service was held in southend. welcome back to this bbc news special programme on afghanistan — 100 days since the taliban returned to power. taliban forces captured kabul on 15 august emboldened by the withdrawal of foreign troops.

in the 100 days since then, how much has changed? afg hanistan's democratically—elected government was replaced by an unelected caretaker cabinet made up exclusively of men who are senior taliban figures. several of them are on a un sanctions list aimed at those who pose a threat to international peace. despite taliban assurances about access to education, only male students were told to return to secondary schools in september. the taliban have said they are working on a way of allowing girls to go back to high schools. i sat down with the taliban's international spokesperson suhail shaheen and asked him when all women and girls will be allowed to freely work and study. we have the policy that women have the right to have access to education and work, so the policy is there. but now coming to implementation — so in some provinces this policy has been implemented and in some others

it is under way to be implemented, so we do not have any problem that women have work. do you regret that girls in this country and women for the last 63, 64, 66 days now have been denied the right to go to school? no, for women they will be promoted. they will not lose one year. all girls will be promoted. kabul collapsed all of a sudden so we had not worked out how about the universities, female and male students, so we faced everything all of a sudden. so girls can be hopeful that

after the winter break they can return to school? yes, yes. there will be a taliban announcement? yes, i think if you follow it has already been announced by me. and the other day it was announced by the minister of prevention of vices and promotion of virtues. it was also announced by him a few days ago. but a timescale? like maybe after the winter break girls can return? i expect and i hope that. and if it doesn't happen, what will you do? i think it is a policy — why should it not happen? so you're hopeful that it will happen? yes, yeah. are you worried about how the taliban will govern over this country going forward given the virtual economic collapse of this country? the international community has a hand in that because they have imposed sanctions and other steps which has led to a humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. i think the international community and other countries who are speaking

about human rights and advocating human rights, they have such claims, they should reconsider not to take steps which lead to humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. have any countries within the international community indicated they are willing to work with the taliban and work with you to deal with the humanitarian crisis, as well as recognition legitimising the government? all countries, including europe, and even the us, they are working with us. so all countries are willing and actually interacting with us and they want to work with us. the only question is that they are not recognising us. i think they are putting pressure, but their pressure is negatively impacting the people of afghanistan. you refer to children,

malnutrition and all those things — it's not because of our action, it is because of their action. we are ready to talk if there is any issue. through understanding, through talks, through convincing each other, we can reach a solution, then why those sanctions? but the fact is that the un says this country is heading towards catastrophe, toward starvation, the famine, the hunger, the poverty. what do you think will be the end result? if they are saying the country is heading towards catastrophe, starvation, a humanitarian crisis, then it is their responsibility to take action, proper action in order to prevent all these tragedies.

that was a suhail shaheen, the talon and's international sports person. —— taliban international spokesperson. with me now is daoud sultanzoy, former mayor of kabul. tell me a little bit about how much your life has changed in the last 3.5 months. qt your life has changed in the last 3-5 months-— your life has changed in the last 3.5 months. _, , , j, 3.5 months. of course, everybody's lives have changed, _ 3.5 months. of course, everybody's lives have changed, including - 3.5 months. of course, everybody's lives have changed, including the i lives have changed, including the taliban who took over 100 days ago. most of the things that happened were mostly by surprise, contrary to the plans are that the international community and the us had and whatever the previous government was planning to do, those things went down the drain and naturally the taliban came in a surprising move. and everybody's life changed, everybody in afghanistan. and i am sure those who are interested in afghanistan, non—afghans also must

be asking questions about what happened, how it happened and what is going to have happen. the most important question is what will happen, where will the country go? what will be the expectation of the people? and how much of it will be fulfilled? these are lingering questions that do not even go 100 days ago. we should seek the roots of these unanswered questions when the international community arrived in afghanistan. the people of afghanistan are still waiting for some answers about their future, that there destiny. and what they deserve as human beings in this country. deserve as human beings in this count . ~ �* , , ., country. we've seen tens of thousands _ country. we've seen tens of thousands of _ country. we've seen tens of thousands of people - country. we've seen tens of thousands of people leave l country. we've seen tens of. thousands of people leave this country, be evacuated. you were a prominent person in this country in the city, an mp, the former mayor of the city, an mp, the former mayor of the city, an mp, the former mayor of the city, why are you still hear? i

would ask the question from those who left, why did they leave? of course, i'm not second—guessing anybody, some people do not want to live in a condition like this. but if everybody leaves, then why should we complain. i want we complain about? as we leave and become monday morning quarterbacks from distances, who will be here to be the catalyst for change? to be a support for change? even if the talent and want to change, even if they wanted to agree with some of the transitional changes —— if the taliban want to change, we have to have an apparatus, a qualified group of afghans who will move those things forward. i afghans who will move those things forward. ., , ., ~' forward. i do you think the taliban would look — forward. i do you think the taliban would look to _ forward. i do you think the taliban would look to people _ forward. i do you think the taliban would look to people like - forward. i do you think the taliban would look to people like you - forward. i do you think the taliban would look to people like you and | would look to people like you and others how you say are qualified? eventually, they will have no choice. eitherthey

eventually, they will have no choice. either they will resort to seek support from qualified afghans aren't experts or they will be a crisis of governance, crisis of management, economic... not recession, but probably worse. tote recession, but probably worse. we are seeing the country head into that direction, the united states has described it as a march towards catastrophe. it is has described it as a march towards catastrophe-— catastrophe. it is very, very alarming- — catastrophe. it is very, very alarming- it _ catastrophe. it is very, very alarming. it is _ catastrophe. it is very, very alarming. it is extremely i catastrophe. it is very, very - alarming. it is extremely dangerous and teetering on the edge and unfortunately, the recipients of this are the poorest people. if we agree to those statistics of 97% are at the poverty line are below it, that 97%, what will happen to the city is? what will happen to the villages? where will people go, what will they end up with? when on one hand, economic crisis on the other

hand, economic crisis on the other hand, the commodity prices —— winter on one hand, the lack of productivity, energy crisis. all of them give hand and create a huge problem and there will be impetus for the taliban to go to the qualified afghans are to support. the taliban will probably realise that they were looking for, they wanted to overthrow the previous government, they wanted to make sure the international community leaves this country, but the victory of war does not mean the victory of governance. 0r does not mean the victory of governance. or the victory of winning the people. i think their work hasjust begun winning the people. i think their work has just begun and i winning the people. i think their work hasjust begun and i am urging them and i am urging all other afghans to think with sober minds. this is not a monopoly. this is a country. and the rank and file

taliban, i do not know very much but if few i know, they realise it is harder to govern than fight. thank ou for harder to govern than fight. thank you for your _ harder to govern than fight. thank you for your time. _ harder to govern than fight. thank you for your time. daoud - harder to govern than fight. thank you for your time. daoud sultanzoy, the former mayor of kabul,. i'm joined now byjohn bolton, who served as president trump's national security advisor. thank you very much forjoining us here in the programme. we have been hearing from a wide range of voices talking about the economic crisis in this country, the humanitarian crisis in this country and the security concerns this country faces. when you look now, 3.5 months on, what is your assessment of how things unfold in?— things unfold in? well, i think they are unfolding. _ things unfold in? well, i think they are unfolding, unfortunately, - things unfold in? well, i think they| are unfolding, unfortunately, pretty much as predicted. we had a very dramatic development in this country about two weeks ago when the number three civilian official in the pentagon, a biden administration appointee, testified in public in

response to a question that the administration's intelligence assessment is that isis—k will be any position to launch terrorist attacks against the united states from afghanistan in 6—12 months and that al-qaeda would be any position to launch terrorist attacks against the united states afghanistan in a 12—24 months. that has a statement here that 2—3 months after the us and nato withdrawal, we are potentially six months away from terrorist attacks. it is a stunning admission that the united states and much of the rest of the world is now much of the rest of the world is now much less secure after the withdrawal than we were beforehand. mr boateng, today i spoke with the brother of the leader of the network. he is also the interior

minister of this country and his younger brother said that we reassure the international community will stand by the doha agreement, we will stand by the doha agreement, we will not allow afghanistan to become a terrorist haven again or be used for the kind of attack is you're describing. how do you respond to that? i describing. how do you respond to that? ., ., , ., ., , that? i do not believe a word they sa . i that? i do not believe a word they say- i think _ that? i do not believe a word they say- l think it— that? i do not believe a word they say. i think it underlines - that? i do not believe a word they say. i think it underlines the - say. i think it underlines the fundamental mistake made by the trump administration and continued by the biden administration to have negotiated a deal about us withdrawal with the taliban. not withdrawal with the taliban. not with any legitimate government that we helped create 20 years ago. as imperfect as it is, and it is pretty imperfect, at least it had some democratic legitimacy, of which are the taliban has none. i think these are propaganda statements by these taliban leaders, the haqqani network in particular. well it is not a terrorist operation, it has a gang

of thieves. this is what the country has come to, it is part of the tragedy. when you look at the situation in the country, although than the humanitarian crisis, there is a relative security, if that's how i should describe it. i is a relative security, if that's howl should describe it. i have been to kandahar, _ howl should describe it. i have been to kandahar, helmand. i | howl should describe it. i have - been to kandahar, helmand. i have travelled by road, by plane. people are desperate because of the humanitarian situation, but in some of these remote areas they spoke about us aerial bombardment and some kind of relative security and peace coming to their areas. do you think the united states and other military strategy here in afghanistan was the wrong one? tia. strategy here in afghanistan was the wron: one? ., ,, strategy here in afghanistan was the wron: one? ., ~ _, . wrong one? no, i think we concede that any 20 — wrong one? no, i think we concede that any 20 years — wrong one? no, i think we concede that any 20 years since _ wrong one? no, i think we concede that any 20 years since the - that any 20 years since the overthrow of the government that gave aid and comfort to isis, there have been no terrorist attacks to

the united states or elsewhere emanating from afghanistan. when you live in an authoritarian state and the population is gripped in fear, most people stick pretty close to home. ~ ., ., ,, most people stick pretty close to home. ~ ., ., i. most people stick pretty close to home. ~ ., ., ., ., ., home. what do you say to all of those people — home. what do you say to all of those people in _ home. what do you say to all of those people in this _ home. what do you say to all of those people in this country - home. what do you say to all of| those people in this country who home. what do you say to all of - those people in this country who say they feel abandoned by the united states, they were left behind, they stuck their necks out to be part of the so—called project afghanistan and now they remain stuck in this country, many saying they fear for their lives? i country, many saying they fear for their lives?— their lives? i feel that has a correct statement - their lives? i feel that has a correct statement of - their lives? i feel that has a correct statement of what l correct statement of what happened. i do think the united states abandoned than though so i think it was a catastrophic mistake for the united states, for nato and the west, for the people of afghanistan. i do not think there is anything we can do about it at this point. i think the mistake continues to reverberate around the world. all of the wrong capitals, moscow, beijing and others see it as a sign of american retreat from the world. i happen to think that is not true,

but i cannot deny the negative consequences of this withdrawal decision and both president trump and abiding share in it equally. —— president biden share in it equally. thank you forjoining us here on the programme, john bolton. as you heard in my interview with taliban spokesperson suhail shaheen, there is hope that girls will be allowed to return secondary school and higher education, having been banned from doing so since september. teenage girls across this country say they are reeling, desperate to get back to school, as well as their teachers. 0ne female university teacher — who is remaining anonymous for her own safety — told me about her experience of life under taliban rule.

if i compare my life — it's not only a comparison of my life, but a comparison of the entire society of afghanistan — in this current regime it's obviously a catastrophic situation and a condition that no—one had ever even dreamt of it. i mean, it's something that we are still thinking that it has to be a nightmare, we are going to wake up from it and this will end eventually. even children, even the babies, aren't safe from it. everybody knows that people without. .. they have got no other solution than to sell their children, than to sell their newborn babies, and that itself is something which leads us to think of a nightmare or which leads us to imagine it's a nightmare and this will eventually end. of course, there is no hope for it, but we, as an afghan,

we would never lose our hope because we belong to this land, we belong to this land of afghan, we belong to this land of afghanistan. there is a new regime, there is a new government, but that shouldn't stop us from going forward or that shouldn't stop us from making or bringing a positive change to our country. history's repeating itself. they have closed the door of the schools for girls but, on the other hand, young girls took their path to coaching centres without any fear in their heart, just for the sake of acquiring education and to do something for their country instead of asking other countries for help. right now, if you go outside, if you take every single footstep, there's a talib standing outside, and women watching those taliban, they still go to the coaching centres, they are still acquiring education, and hats off to them. the braveness in their hearts, the braveness that they have or the mindset that they have,

the hope they are still having, carrying in their hearts that one day there will be a day that we will go to universities, we will work outside in the office, and we will make a positive change in our country. this is something that we cannot take out from the hearts of those afghan young women or children. a teacher who kept her self anonymous for her own safety. i'm joined now by general david petraeus, former commander of international and us forces in afghanistan. earlier we heard from ambassador bolton, who said intelligence agencies are now predicting afghanistan could again become a breeding ground for international terrorism. give us your thoughts on that and what you're hearing. weill. that and what you're hearing. well, i find that and what you're hearing. well, i find myself _ that and what you're hearing. well, i find myself broadly _ that and what you're hearing. well, i find myself broadly in _ that and what you're hearing. -tt i find myself broadly in agreement with what ambassador bolton said and

are certainly repeated the assessment of the number three policy official in the department of defence in the united states, which was a come again, quite an astonishing admission that within 6-18 astonishing admission that within 6—18 months, what have you, elements of the islamic state could actually pose a threat that would be outside afghanistan. indeed, the islamic state has actually gained additional strength because of the release from detention of all the individuals in the jails around afghanistan as the taliban made their way to kabul in their offensive resulting in the ultimate collapse of the government and they have been conducting attacks, as you know, on a much more than a weekly basis, often targeting shia and almost trying to stoke a civil war between shia and sunni. it

is a very worst—case kind of assessment, the islamic state will be under pressure from the taliban, but the taliban did not remotely have the kinds of capabilities that we had on the ground and we were able to help our afghan partners with as away sort of repeatedly to deny al-qaeda a kind of sanctuary they had when at the 9/11 attacks were planned on afghan soil under taliban control and to beat back efforts by the islamic states khorasan group in pakistan. it is laruel on khorasan group in pakistan. it is largely on the — khorasan group in pakistan. it is largely on the gulf states... which is a really worrying. general petraeus, what we saw with those over the horizon strategies here in the centre of kabul, just before the withdrawal, those are the kinds of errors that can take place if the

united states simply relies on horizon. it united states simply relies on horizon. , . ., , ., ., horizon. it is certainly among the es of horizon. it is certainly among the types of mistakes _ horizon. it is certainly among the types of mistakes that _ horizon. it is certainly among the types of mistakes that can - horizon. it is certainly among the types of mistakes that can be - horizon. it is certainly among the i types of mistakes that can be made and have been made over the years. and it is no denying mistakes are made in wartime, particularly when organisations are under enormous pressure, as was the case during that a very chaotic ending of the withdrawal of our forces and various elements from afghanistan, some 120,000 or so of them, and again a situation that can only be described as chaotic outside of kabul international airport. there will have to be enormous caretaking. we had a sign on the wall about the operation centres when i was privileged to be a commander in iraq, afghanistan and so forth that he is to ask a question, will this operation take more bad guys of the street than it creates a by this conduct? and you're supposed to consider that and that was violated by number of times. it took enormous

effort to drive down the fence the very casualties that resulted from some of... in very casualties that resulted from some of- - -— very casualties that resulted from some of... ., ., , ., ~' some of... in general, do you think then that the _ some of... in general, do you think then that the united _ some of... in general, do you think then that the united states - some of... in general, do you think then that the united states will. then that the united states will find itself in any position where they have no choice but to work with they have no choice but to work with the taliban on counterterrorism? well, that was at the other day, in fact, and they respondent, a senior commander of us special operations commander of us special operations command said he did not regard the taliban as a suitable partner so i tend to doubt that, but that said, we are going to have to work with the taliban any variety of different ways initially through the diplomatic right that we are using. i can —— diplomatic route. i can see establishing an embassy back in

afghanistan without recognising the taliban because of the need to take care of the tens of thousands of individuals and family members who we have left behind her�*s very lives and security —— who is a very lives and security —— who is a very lives and security. battlefield translators and in various other capacities. we have a moral obligation which we have not yet met. as you discussed with ambassador bolton, to something which isjust hanging out ambassador bolton, to something which is just hanging out there ambassador bolton, to something which isjust hanging out there in addition tojust the which isjust hanging out there in addition to just the sheer brutality of this winterfor addition to just the sheer brutality of this winter for the afghan people who face a winter of enormous cold, hunger, and starvation.— hunger, and starvation. general petraeus, _ hunger, and starvation. general petraeus, unfortunately - hunger, and starvation. general petraeus, unfortunately we - hunger, and starvation. general| petraeus, unfortunately we have hunger, and starvation. general- petraeus, unfortunately we have run out of time. a pleasure to talk to you. thank you forjoining us here. that was our bbc news and special on afghanistan, 100 days since the taliban swept to power, i am yalda

hakim here in kabul, afghanistan. we will have much more cover throughout the afternoon, stay here with us. good afternoon, today is one of the calmer, now of the week compared to what will come. it will turn colder with some rain, but possibly some sleet and snow times and the potential for a sleet and snow times and the potentialfor a really sleet and snow times and the potential for a really stormy and to the week. for the time being, things are relatively quiet. windy across the uk -- are relatively quiet. windy across the uk —— north of the uk. best of the uk —— north of the uk. best of the sunshine across eastern and southern areas. as we head through this evening and into tonight, big areas of cloud floating around, potential for fog patches towards the south—east end of this band of rain working in across parts of scotland and northern ireland by the end of the night. temperatures for most of us hovering around freezing.

tomorrow, we will have this band of rain, a cold front which will push its way southwards and eastwards. as any name suggests, the air behind this front will be turning colder. as we start to develop a northerly wind. 0urfrontalsystem as we start to develop a northerly wind. 0urfrontal system marked out by this band of cloud and rain sinking southwards, ahead of it quite a lot of cloud so any mist and fog in places. some sunny spells too. things will turn much brighter with lots of sunshine, but some showers which by wintry of a high ground in scotland. it will turn increasingly blustery and increasingly blustery and increasingly cold stop all of us will be in the cold airfor thursday. quite a press northerly wind, only easing through the day. sunny spells for many, showers because the part and wintry showers of a high ground in northern scotland. temperatures in a single day for about all of us. this is very�*s weather maker, in the area of low pressure diving down from the

north, heavy rain and strong winds, but with some cold air wrapping into this weather system. that is the potential for some of the rain to turn to sleet and snow. it really depends upon just how cold the air gets. we will see areas of showery rain sinking southwards, possibly to low levels in northern scotland it will be a very cold day and a very windy day. in fact, we could see damaging winds developing in places during friday night, gale is possible to the north and east. any threat of windy and wintry weather. it is worth staying tuned to the forecast.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the ayes to the right, 272. the noes to the left, 246. | borisjohnson gets his social care changes through the commons, despite significant concerns from some mps that poorer people in england will be harder hit. 46 people die after a coach crashed and burst into flames in bulgaria — 12 of the dead were children. people in northern ireland are being asked to work from home, where possible, in a bid to stop the spread of covid 19. two men are arrested on suspicion of murder after a couple in their thirties were killed in somerset, local

people have spoken of their shock.