VOA慢速英语--年轻的阿富汗人担心塔利班的回归会破坏坎大哈的进步

The city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan was once the center of the Taliban's Islamist government.

But Kandahar is slowly changing into an energetic city of 700,000. It has busy eateries, universities with both men and women and even a women's exercise center.

Young men gather each night at the Arena¹ club, a popular gathering² place in the city. They play games, watch sporting events or smoke tobacco. Such activities were almost unthinkable when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

"There was no such place in Kandahar when we built it and there is still no other such place in the [entire] south," said 30-year-old Nazir Ahmad, Arena's owner.

Under Taliban rule, all kinds of entertainment were banned, from music and movies to kite flying.

But the city's young people fear such freedoms may be lost again. The Taliban have increased its attacks in the area even during peace talks with the government.

Many in Kandahar still remember the public beatings and executions in open areas of the city.

But Kandahar has experienced a huge change in recent years. Women can now be seen riding on motorcycles. Families enjoy eating together outdoors. Several city spaces have fountains that light up when the sun goes down. Street sellers serve hot Afghan food into the night.

But the Taliban appear energized³ to fight back after a deal with the United States that secured the withdrawal⁴ of all foreign forces by May. They have strengthened their campaign against Afghan forces in rural areas.

'What kind of peace?'

Afghanistan now faces the possibility of giving back some power to the Taliban, which U.S.-led forces have been unable to defeat for 19 years.

The Taliban claim to control or contest more than half of the country, including large areas across southern Afghanistan.

Kandahar city remains⁵ firmly in the control of government forces. But the Taliban are not far away.

"I hope the Taliban have changed and will let this club remain open," Arena club's owner, Ahmad, told reporters with Agence France-Presse.

Cafe Delight is another popular eatery in the city. The cafe permits entry to female customers — something that is still uncommon⁶ in the city.

"What kind of peace would it be if they closed down our cafe?" asked the café's owner, Mohammad Yasin.

"We will not comply if the Taliban tell us not to accept female customers," he added.

When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, girls were banned from school. Women accused of crimes such as adultery were stoned to death at sports stadiums.

But since the Taliban were ousted⁷, women have made great progress in cities. They have taken jobs in the media, politics and even the country's security forces.

Changed Taliban?

But some women in Kandahar fear they will lose some of their hard-won freedoms if the Taliban returns to power.

"There was only one school for girls and now we have 15," said Mariam Durrani. The 36-year-old has established several projects for women -- including an education center, a radio station and an exercise center where some women secretly attend classes.

"There is a possibility that the Taliban may return and that restrictions⁸ could be imposed on women again," Durrani said.

Others are more hopeful, like Shukria Ali. She works at Radio Merman, the women-led station that Durrani started. The station recently received a prize from the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders.

"Maybe the Taliban have changed," Ali told AFP.

Weeks after Ali spoke⁹ with AFP reporters, the country experienced a number of deadly and unclaimed attacks on reporters.

Words in This Story

adultery – n. sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband

stadiums – n. a large usually outdoor structures with rows of seats for spectators at sports events

1 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

7 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。