We witnessed the largest mass migration by air to the west in the last 2-3 weeks of August 2021. Although it is still fresh, there will be books written about this in the future and analyzed bit by bit. People were so distraught and scared for their lives, that they went to extreme measures to leave. People selling their $100,000 businesses for $5,000 on the spot and leaving for the airport. People abandoning their cars on the street across from the airport with key in ignition, and catching a flight out. People losing their small children in the crowd in front of the airport, and leaving without them. Young men holding on to the military airplane, in hopes of hanging on until it landed in Qatar or anywhere but Afghanistan. What they didn't realize was that it was essentially suicide - it would be impossible to hold on outside the jet airplane for that long. Just the high altitude would deprive them of oxygen and they would pass out and fall. But when PTSD kicks in, which most Afghans have due to decades of war, reason is out the window.
This depicts not liberation of a city, as Taliban would like you to think. It paints a picture of a city being occupied, against the will of its residents. The evidence is seen in the faces of people of Kabul, their desperation to leave. It was hardly liberation from Americans - they were already on their way out. Whether it was the English, Russians, or Americans - occupation is defined by rule without the consent of people. There is no more powerful evidence to prove that people do not consent to Taliban rule than hundreds of thousands of people of Kabul leaving, risking their lives, as soon as they heard Taliban are entering Kabul. Kabul is occupied by a group whose base support comes from Pakistan. Some Taliban maybe Afghans, but their command and control lies in Pakistan and many fighters, advisors and resources are foreign. This is no different than the government in Kabul during Russians or Americans. Just a different boss now. Over the past couple of centuries there has been multiple proxy governments in Kabul, supported by external forces. British in 19th century. Russians in 1980's. Americans in 2000's and 2010's. Ladies and gentlemen, now we have Pakistani sponsored Taliban. If those think that Taliban will bring peace, just look at the record of brutality of 1996-2001. Despite that brutality, they were not able to completely take over the country even at that time (e.g. Panjshir), because people of Afghanistan are moderate and do not prescribe to their extreme version of Islam. The only true peace in Afghanistan will come when there is an inclusive government, representing all ethnic groups, in a democratic and progressive way - respecting human rights, women's rights, minority rights, progressive Universities, free speech etc. A government that separates religion from the government. For the best interest of its people - not religious figures. Theocracy does not have a place in civilized 21st century. Otherwise there will be no peace - period.
The sooner the Taliban and their supporters realize this, the sooner we will have peace.
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton
1834 – 1902