Afghan musicians flee Kabul, fearing for their lives and dire future for art under Taliban rule

Afghan musicians are fleeing Kabul for fear of their lives and the future of their art under Taliban rule.

As the Taliban tighten its grip on power in Afghanistan, patrons of the popular Afghan music in Pakistan are shutting their offices with artistes in Kabul being forced to flee into hiding, resulting in cancellation of music programmes and huge losses for the industry. The Taliban swept across the country last month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities in the backdrop of withdrawal of the US forces that began on May 1. On August 15, the capital city of Kabul fell to the insurgents.