Protests erupted in at least two of eastern Afghan cities days after the Taliban seized power in the country as people gathered in thousands, waving the tricolor flag - which is different than the Taliban’s flag - demanding respect for the national flag from the insurgent group who are bidding to rule the country and rename it the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Taliban shot at people in an attempt to disperse the crowd in Khost and Jalalabad, the two districts in the country’s eastern part, on Wednesday, local media reports said. This is the first time since the group took power when people gathered in a rare show of defiance against the Taliban.

It came a day before the country's independence day, which is on 19 August. The group has installed its own white and black flag on all government buildings. Videos of the protests, shared widely on social media platforms, showed people removing the Taliban flag from a city square in Jalalabad and installing the tricolor flag of the Afghan Republic.

Despite the assurances given by the group to the public, people remained skeptical if the Taliban would respect the national flag and grant them the rights and freedom that they had during the last twenty years. 

Fearing reprisal from the group, thousands are still racing to the airport and borders to flee the country. Others are hiding inside their homes, fearful after prisons and armories were emptied during the insurgents’ blitz across the country.

Video footage showed fighters firing into the air and attacking people with batons to disperse the crowd. Reports and videos showed that Taliban fighters also attacked and beat up many journalists who were covering these protests. 

Despite seizing power, the Taliban remains a highly unpopular political group, especially in Afghan cities, where people fear they would lose their rights and freedom.

 Meanwhile, Panjshir Valley, around 100 miles north of Kabul, remains the only province out of the control of the Taliban. Ahmad Massoud, the son of former legendary anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, along with Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who  on Tuesday declared himself acting president, is leading the resistance against the Taliban in the valley. 

Saleh said he was contacting all republican leaders to mobilize them against the group. 

The Taliban, however, are going ahead with their efforts to form an “inclusive, Islamic government.” and they have been holding talks with former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the virtual number two in the ousted government who was the chief peace negotiator.

(SAM)