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Troops' withdrawal brings hopes and fears for the future of Afghan society

US, British and Nato combat forces are leaving Afghanistan this summer. President Joe Biden has said US forces will be gone by 11 September, but the withdrawal comes as the main jihadist group, the Taliban, advances in many parts of Afghanistan.

Many Afghans are worried that the troops' withdrawal will embolden the militants who've already been capturing more and more territory.聽Mariam Solaimankhil is a member of the Afghan parliament who represents the Kuchis, a small nomadic community. She believes there will be repercussions because of the pull out, and says she wishes the troops had stayed until a deal with the Taliban had been negotiated.

"As a woman, as an Afghan, I'm terrified. The forty-plus terrorist organisations in Pakistan will be able to breed as much terrorism on this land as they like now."

Photo: Afghan girl students in Herat province, Afghanistan, April 2020 Credit: Getty Images

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5 minutes