have changed. when you're talking to the men and some of them don't have long beards, are you saying anything to them about their beards or does it matter right now? we tell the people that this is the prophet muhammad and make them aware, he says. but we don't want to force the people to do this. in another part of the market, the newly resurrected, much-feared religious police are also keen to show they are taking a lighter touch. they gather the shopkeepers to introduce themselves and warn them about the importance of following the sharia. make sure your women cover themselves, one talib tells the crowd. they should not travel without a close male relative. a man stands nearby, casually smoking a cigarette. a punishable offense under the previous taliban regime, but no one says a thing. back at their headquarters at