Prominent Turkish writer Yasin Aktay, in a column for the Turkish daily Yeni Şafak, argues that the stereotypical image of Afghanistan presented by global media does not reflect reality. He asserts that since what he calls the “liberation,” the Taliban have accomplished what many thought was impossible.
Aktay, currently visiting Afghanistan for the second time in a year and a half — on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from what he calls the Afghan “quagmire” — said the “quagmire” description applies only to the occupiers. Afghanistan itself, he wrote, is “a paradise on earth for anyone who enters through the proper door, respects the traditions of its people, and enjoys its climate, nature, and all the blessings God has bestowed upon it.”
He recalled that during the final negotiations before the U.S. withdrawal, when it was proposed to leave some American troops inside the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, a Taliban representative responded:
“We will not allow you to keep even a single pistol. If you mean protection, we are fully capable of protecting anyone who sets foot on this country’s soil.”
According to Aktay, Afghanistan today genuinely welcomes visitors, even promoting tourism through lighthearted, friendly advertisements that invite anyone to come legally — whether for investment or leisure.
A Bridge to the World
Aktay emphasizes the importance of observing the changes Afghanistan has undergone in the four years since liberation — which Afghans themselves call “the conquest” — and the progress achieved since his last visit.
One major development, he notes, is that Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Afghanistan, now operating a daily service to Kabul on fully booked large aircraft. These flights carry a mix of Turkish traders, investors, and tourists, but the majority of passengers are Afghans, along with some travelers from Europe and other countries.
Istanbul, Aktay explains, has become the main gateway between Afghanistan and the world. For many European countries, the only available route to Afghanistan is via Turkey. As a result, Turkish Airlines gathers passengers from around the globe in Istanbul and then flies them to Kabul.
While global media continues to promote a distorted, militant image of the Taliban, their peaceful reputation among ordinary Afghans has grown, leading to the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans from abroad for the first time in decades.
Social Peace and Unlikely Achievements
This time, Aktay says, Afghanistan under the new Taliban administration is different: the movement has honored its declared amnesty, abandoning revenge policies against members of the previous regime and avoiding score-settling over the past.
The “impossible,” he argues, is not only the restoration of peace but also the astonishing success in combating narcotics. Many Afghans, he recalls, believed the Taliban would never give up this lucrative source of revenue. Yet a two-sentence decree from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was enough to address the issue at its root.
Lands once used for opium cultivation have now been planted with saffron, one of Afghanistan’s prized crops — though it cannot match narcotics in sheer market value.
Finally, Aktay stresses that Afghan social life is not as strict as many outsiders imagine; in fact, in some respects, it is more flexible than widely believed.
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