Afghanistan Falls To The Taliban In Rapid Takeover

With lightning speed, the Taliban surprised all estimated guesses at how long it would take the militant group to takeover Afghanistan. Ten days after it initiated its advance, the Taliban completed its mission, seizing the capital, Kabul, in just one day – Sunday. Streets were eerily quiet as residents uncertain about their future mainly hunkered down indoors. Afghan soldiers could be seen shedding their uniforms and putting on civilian clothes. The demoralized troops offered no protection for Afghan citizens. Long lines formed at banks with Afghanis anxious to recover as much of their funds as possible. Women universally fear a return to the strict Islamic guidelines that limited their education, forbade their opportunity to work, required a male escort when outside the home, and essentially made them prisoners in their own homes. The hijab is the required dress of the day for all women, giving them total anonymity.

Many questions and fears are in the hearts of Afghanis. Will the brutal and barbaric punishment of lawbreakers continue, such as the amputation of a hand for a thief? Will girls be allowed to have any education at all or even a limited education? Will Shariah law replace the new more democratic laws? Will life return to its status 20 years ago? Will they arise a renewed effort to regain or maintain some of the advances made in the last 20 years?

The scene at Kabul’s airport appeared to answer some of these questions. It appeared Afghanis were doubtful that the Taliban had reinvented itself to be more benevolent and tolerant. Hordes of people were swarming the airport and the tarmac to escape. There were even reports of some people hanging on to the tails of airplanes as they took off, falling to their death. A national paranoia seems to be the order of the day.

Western politicians had assumed that their shared values for life, education, and respect for individual freedoms and opportunities had been adopted by Afghanis, and that the army would feel proud to defend those rights. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many Afghan soldiers cannot even read or write. The common Afghani is trying to hang on, eke out a living to support a large family of sometimes 8 or 9 children. Afghanistan shared none of the values or standards as Western nations. Furthermore, their heritage is rooted in Islam, not Christianity, and a rigid, legalistic form of Islam that shows little mercy.

Let us pray fervently for:

  • Justice to prevail and for this fledgling democracy to withstand  the threats against its stability (The Bible, Proverbs 21:15).
  • President Saied to heed the international outcry against his return to autocratic policies (The Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
  • The minority Christian community to unite in prayer to Almighty God to intervene in the affairs of men to deter efforts to undermine this fragile democracy (The Bible, Isaiah 59:15-17).
  • The Taliban to modify its extremism to be more tolerant and judicious in its administration and governance of Afghanistan (The Bible, Leviticus 19:15).
  • Western nations to exert pressure on the Taliban to change their barbaric style of governance and punishment (The Bible, Proverbs 21:15).
  • Safety for all foreigners trying to leave Afghanistan. God to give a divine protection and covering for the vulnerable (The Bible, Psalm 91)
  • The Afghan people to persist in their efforts to retain the reforms and advances made on their behalf for the last 20 years (The Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached and taught to the hopeless Afghanis, giving them hope for their eternity in Heaven (The Bible, Job 11:18).
  • Americans to stand by their moral obligation to protect Afghan workers and their families (The Bible, Proverbs 10:9).