fatima sultani has come to celebrate herfriend's birthday. rew up in a deprived village before moving to kabul, where she found her way into sports, martial arts and mountaineering. last year, she became the youngest woman to summit the highest peak of afghanistan, noshaq in the hindu kush mountain range. fatima's close friend, zabih afzali, is also a mountaineer and a tour guide. today is the 8th of august. there is a heavy trafficjam in kabul. the taliban has made significant advances overnight, and it is becoming increasingly tense. news headlines are about the fall of cities, retreating forces, targeted killings and people fleeing. over the past week, fighting has forced thousands of people to move to kabul, but those in kabul who can afford to are fleeing the country. morteza herati is a well—known photojournalist from herat province. he has applied for a visa, and he's preparing to leave the country. he has seen the rise and fall of the taliban as a child and now he is experiencing flashbacks. it has already been a few weeks since mortez