By the ABC's South Asia correspondent James Oaten
Growing up in Afghanistan, university student Shkula Zadran has good reason to fear the Taliban.
She has seen their many acts of terrorism in Kabul.
Shkula Zadran Photo: Facebook / United Nations
The first she can recall was when she was in year six at school.
"There was a huge blast in front of our school," she said.
"I still remember the parts of human bodies lying down in our schoolyard.
"I have witnessed many, many incidents, from my childhood to a few months ago."
Zadran spent her early years as a refugee in Pakistan after her family fled the Taliban when it ruled over much of Afghanistan, enforcing a brutal Islamist regime that banned women from higher education and career opportunities.
Since returning to her home country, Zadran has achieved success that was impossible under the old regime.
Last year, she was the country's youth representative to the United Nations, where she spoke about how young Afghans wanted peace.
When the Taliban took the capital, it seemed everything she and women like her had achieved over many years was being destroyed in a matter of days.
"As a part of this young generation, we have put all our efforts and struggles into building this republic," she said.
Listen to Sunday Morning's interview with a young woman running a newsroom in Kabul
Staying on - for now
The Taliban has vowed to be a more modern version of the old, oppressive outfit, with leaders speaking of education and employment opportunities for women.
But the Taliban's legacy of barbarity had led thousands of Afghans to flock to the airport in a desperate bid to board an evacuation flight.
Many women, including Zadran, are staying at home, fearing the streets that Taliban militants roam are now too unsafe.
I was going through instagram, watching rest of the world happy, vibrant and peaceful. Should i honestly make a confession?! I envy you all. You people have a life. Afghans are just counting down to their death. Only death can be an end to our misery.
— Shkula Zadran ښکلا ځدران (@ShkulaZadran) August 20, 2021
But despite the security threat, Zadran said she would only flee the country if she was forced out.
"I'm desperately trying to be optimistic and be hopeful for the future," she said.
"It's not that we are welcoming all those things and incidents that are happening around us. It's just because we don't have any other option. They have been imposed on us.
"Now, our responsibility is to adjust with the situation, to help [the Taliban] curate a better environment for Afghan people, and to be part of change."
Despite assurances it would not seek revenge, the Taliban has ramped up their search for people who worked with the previous government and foreign forces.
Militants have gone door to door, according to a UN threat assessment, while a relative of a journalist who worked with German broadcaster DW was killed this week.
Amid reports of reprisals, YouTube star seeks escape
One outspoken university student, who the ABC is not identifying, received text messages that purported to be from a US army officer telling her to urgently meet near the airport.
She is certain it was a Taliban trap.
Freshta Faramarz runs a YouTube channel that includes a blend of reports about life in Kabul.
She said the channel did not discuss political matters, but that would not make her any safer.
"I'm not safe," she said. "Even my family is in danger."
Freshta Faramarz fears for both her own safety and that of her family. Photo: YouTube
The US and its allies have evacuated more than 13,000 people in a week and has stated it may continue its mission until after August, when it was due to withdraw its final troops.
Faramarz has written to the US, Canadian and German embassies seeking a visa, but a sluggish process has meant many fear they will be left behind.
"I want to stay here, I want to stay with my people," Framarz said.
"But right now, it is so hard for me.
"The streets are empty of women. It shows women are afraid of the Taliban."
Women brace for a slow erosion of their rights
The Taliban has been vague in what its new form of government will look like and has not clarified how it will uphold women's rights, apart from stating it will be "within the limits of Islam".
The group has also ruled out holding elections.
And posters featuring women's faces outside beauty salons have been covered with graffiti or paint in anticipation of strict new rules.
Kabul. pic.twitter.com/RyZcA7pktj
— Lotfullah Najafizada (@LNajafizada) August 15, 2021
Many experts believe it may take weeks before the new ruling regime takes shape, with Taliban leaders themselves expressing surprise at how quickly they conquered the country.
"The first thing that Afghans are asking for is a peaceful transition of power that takes into consideration the humanitarian crisis and conditions on the ground and addresses that," said Mariam Safi, who set up the Kabul-based think tank, the Organisation for Policy Research and Development Studies.
"The second would be the establishment of an inclusive government that takes into consideration the multi-faceted aspects of Afghan society and one that respects the equal rights of citizens."
Afghan women attend a rally to support peace talks and their government, in Kabul, in March 2021. Photo: AFP
Law student Aisha Khurram, who was the Afghan youth representative to the UN in 2019, said the Taliban had failed to back up its promises with action.
"So far, we didn't see any positive action committed by them," she said.
Khurram, who was also staying at home amid the chaos, hoped the Taliban would realise that some of the changes the country had undergone in two decades could not be undone.
"They have to reconcile with the new Afghanistan, and they have to adjust," she said.
"The younger generation proved that they will accept peaceful coexistence, but they will never accept oppression.
"You can take power by force, by violence. But you cannot sustain power by force, by violence. "
- ABC
