A thriving agricultural community has taken shape since the Afghans sought to find a home in this barren land soon after the Soviet invasion of their country.
Traditionally, Afghan rulers have raised armies not to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, but as a means to consolidate their power and crush their domestic opponents.
Despite the Taliban's military victory, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to impose their extremely conservative religious view of society on the Afghan people in the long run.