This Is Taliban Country

Fault Lines reports from the Taliban stronghold of Charkh District just an hour outside Kabul. Charkh has become a microcosm of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Though only an hour from Kabul, armed Taliban patrol the streets openly and have built a parallel administration in Charkh, including Sharia courts and girls schools.

Nagieb Khaja reports from the Taliban stronghold of Charkh, Logar Province. Though only an hour from Kabul, armed Taliban fighters walk openly in the streets and government and Western forces are entirely absent. Khaja bears witness to the parallel administration the Taliban have built in Charkh, and hears testimony from the population—including from the families of civilian casualties of Afghan National Army bombings.

Khaja is the first Western journalist to film a Taliban Sharia court where he witnesses a case in which the defendant is a Taliban member and the outcome is surprising. He also visits local boys and girls schools run in concert with the Taliban.

"This is Taliban Country" shows a defiant Taliban determined to continue attacking the Afghan National Army bases and keep control of the region.