Taliban bans fatigues & weapons from amusement park
On Wednesday, the Taliban ordered its troops not to enter amusement parks while dressed in fatigues and armed with weaponry.
“Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban soldiers) are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles,” government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a tweet, adding “Mujahideen are obliged to abide by all the rules and regulations of amusement parks.”
The announcement comes just months after images and videos of armed Taliban troops enjoying an amusement park on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul, prompted widespread mockery on social media.
In the viral videos, which emerged after the fall of Kabul in August, Taliban troops can be seen flashing their guns as they play on the bumper cars and other rides.
These Taliban are having fun at the amusement park, on bumper cars, carousel, and trampoline. But according to Russian media, the amusement park was burned down the next day. pic.twitter.com/xLmHwN09O7
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) August 19, 2021
After fighting so many years, now #Taliban fighter having fun at amusement park in #afghanistanpic.twitter.com/G7Zuk9oAhK
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) September 23, 2021
The Qargha reservoir amusement park has proven particularly popular with the Taliban’s crack troops. Reuters journalists observed the fighters sipping tea, buying snacks from stalls along the shoreline, and queueing for rides.
Video purports to show Taliban militants having fun and celebrating at a children’s amusement park in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/jPxQaSwYrd
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) August 16, 2021
Many of the troops had never been to Kabul before and wanted to visit the park before returning to defend the regime across the country.
The original footage was shot just weeks after the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15 after two decades of Western-backed rule.