Nicolas Feldmann and Marion Gauthier, edited by Manon Fossat 7:15 p.m., August 20, 2021
In several places in Kabul, but also in Asadabad, in the east, Afghans wave the national flag, defying the Taliban who imposed their white flag on public buildings.
Hundreds of protesters also marched through the capital on Thursday demanding the return of the Republic of Afghanistan.
Thousands of people continue to converge on Kabul airport hoping to leave the country and in parallel with its attempts to evacuate protests shake the country.
The population has taken to the streets of several cities to protest against the Taliban who have seized power, and there are already three victims as shots fired by the Taliban to disperse the crowd still resonate on social networks.
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In Kabul, hundreds of demonstrators marched smoothly, with many women among them. The image of the raised fist of one of them is particularly relayed as the symbol of a courageous mobilization, surrounded by armed Taliban. With the Afghan flag on her shoulders and her arm raised, she encourages and leads the parade in the capital. Another woman was also illustrated at the head of a black, red and green procession, the colors of the country which celebrated Thursday the 102nd anniversary of its independence. The Taliban, for their part, celebrated the victory over the American occupier, while the street demanded the departure of the Islamist movement. "Our flag, our identity" chanted the protesters, some of whom took down thewhite flag of the Taliban to replace it with that of the Republic of Afghanistan.
An unprecedented alliance
One of the last pockets of resistance is also organizing in the Panchir valley, north-east of Kabul.
A mountainous region that the Taliban have never managed to conquer.
Two men are at its head: the former vice-president Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, son of the famous commander Massoud, assassinated in 2001 by al-Qaeda men.
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For researcher Hasni Abidi, if this alliance is unprecedented, it will however have to rely on foreign powers to structure itself. "The new opposition cannot resist the Taliban without the massive support of the West but also of some important countries like Iran and Russia. Logistical support and support by arms is a very likely hypothesis, but we know that the Taliban risk swelling their ranks, "he assures us. "The forces which benefit this new alliance are far from making the weight against those of the Taliban", continues the specialist. Officially, the diplomatic channel is currently privileged. Russia has called on the Taliban for a national dialogue to form a government representing the different currents of the country.