One of the british soldiers injured in afghanistan was rifleman Craig Monaghan From manchester. Serving with c company, 2 rifles, he sustained serious Head Injuries and is still on medication. He says the news that the taliban are back makes him wonder why so many fought, bled and lost their Lives. 10 of his colleagues were killed. Hes been speaking to our correspondent, jeremy cooke. The pain i felt this morning. Was like i felt sick. Like physically went to the toilet, retching, thinking i was going to be sick. Every area now that ifought, bled, friends lost their Lives on, hasjust gone. I was 18 years old when i arrived in country, coming up to my 19th birthday. Id aspired to go to afghanistan, like i wanted to be in afghanistan. During that period, it was just like we went to bed one night, woke up the next day, and the world was against us. Were you in combat every day at that point . Yeah, by mid june, yeah, every single day we were. That 2nd Ofjune Incident was, like, the first time id ever experienced death. You remember the date . Yeah. And, sadly, there was more to come. Yeah, a lot, nine more fell on the 2nd ofjune, yeah. Nine more From your company . Yeah. Like so many of your mates, you were injured. Yeah. Can you remember that day . Id ratherjust not go into the whole. Ok, but you were injured, right . Yeah, so ive lost my vision in my eye, ive got a brain injury, which then results in my left arm not working as well as it should. But my body literally is battered, like i take eight tablets a day just to manage my brain, to stop the pressure build up. The mental Health Side of it, as someone whos now lost 12 friends to Suicide Whove served in afghan with me, outweighs the cost of the combat. You Cant Fight whats going on in your head. And ive been in the situation where ive been stood on the edge of a train track, thinking. Like, ididn� t want to die, ijust didnt want to live with how. I didnt want to live with what i was living with. Youve talked about the cost of all of this to you, to your physical health, to your mental health, the friends that you lost. Watching the news in the last few days cannot have been easy. So, for me, id always have to hold onto the fact that it had to be worth something. Except this morning, when you wake up this morning and you see the news. Its a really tough pill to swallow when so many of your friends died there but are still dying because of there. Was it worth it . It has to be. Its. Ive lost everything, my friends have lost everything. At some point, were going to have to find a way to justify it, even for our own personal sanity, because otherwise the emptiness will never leave and the whole mental Health Side of the war willjust spiral out of control, and it already is spiralling out of control. Now on bbc news, our world. 20 years of nine 11 and the invasion of anniston, american troops of finally leaving. But since news troops of finally leaving. But since news of troops of finally leaving. But since news of the troops of finally leaving. Elf since news of the withdrawal, targeted killings and Suicide Attacks have increased. The . Attacks have increased. They were the attacks have increased. They were the taliban attacks have increased. They were the taliban are attacks have increased. They were the taliban are back. Attacks have increased. They| were the taliban are back and rapidly gaining ground against government forces. Many people fear there will be a return to the brutal regime of the 90s. Taliban leaders in doha say they have changed, and want to find a solution to the conflict. Find a solution to the conflict. , conflict. There was in the ast, conflict. There was in the past. Some conflict. There was in the past, some mistakes conflict. There was in the past, some mistakes we | conflict. There was in the past, some mistakes we have learned From. In past, some mistakes we have learned From. Learned From. In this 2part Series ill learned From. In this 2part Series ill be learned From. In this 2part Series ill be trying learned From. In this 2part Series ill be trying to learned From. In this 2part Series ill be trying to find L Series ill be trying to find out if they are serious about peace and what is at stake for ordinary afghans. Ordinary afghans. There is no wa i ordinary afghans. There is no way i can ordinary afghans. There is no way i can surrender ordinary afghans. There is no way i can surrender to ordinary afghans. There is no way i can surrender to the. Way i can surrender to the taliban, none, no way. Iwas born in afghanistan taliban, none, no way. Iwas born in afghanistan and taliban, none, no way. Iwasj born in afghanistan and have been reporting From the region for more than a decade. After two years away, i was on my way to meet with an old friend, the Photojournalist Massoud husseini. I was surprised to find out he was living in hiding, barely living his house. I hiding, barely living his house. , house. I am staying here, actually house. I am staying here, actually. Here house. I am staying here, actually. Here is house. I am staying here, actually. Here isjust house. I am staying here, actually. Here is just to i house. I am staying here, i actually. Here isjust to show actually. Here is just to show you where i live. Here is my bed. I made it as a kitchen, and thats it. Thats your life . Yeah. All the time here, all the time. Life . Yeah. All the time here, all the time. Massouds parents but afghanistan all the time. Massouds parents but afghanistan when all the time. Massouds parents but afghanistan when he all the time. Massouds parents but afghanistan when he was i all the time. Massouds parents but afghanistan when he was a | but afghanistan when he was a small child. After the us invasion in 2001, he decided to return and take part in the rebuilding of the nation. fine Rebuilding of the nation. One of my favourite rebuilding of the nation. he; of my favourite pittures rebuilding of the nation. Qig; of my favourite pictures when rebuilding of the nation. Iiig; of my favourite pictures when i came to afghanistan, this is the second day, the morning of the second day, the morning of the second day that i arrived in kabul. And this picture gave me a lot of hope. I thought that we were going to be a normal country, normal society. Girls can do this, they can come to the cultural events like this. Come to the cultural events like this come to the cultural events like this. � ,. , , like this. But did your wishes come true. Like this. But did your wishes come true, to like this. But did your wishes come true, to some like this. But did your wishes come true, to some extent, | come true, to some extent, coming back to afghanistan, being so active and involved . Yeah, well, that is something that i felt as a responsibility to do for my country, you know . But i think that it never come true. In but i think that it never come true. but i think that it never come true. Ii true. In 2011, massoud photographed true. In 2011, massoud photographed the true. In 2011, massoud i photographed the Suicide Bombing of a shia shrine. His photo was a stark warning to the world that the gains that had been made in afghanistan since 2001 could easily be wiped away. It since 2001 could easily be wiped away wiped away. It still is too much painful. Wiped away. It still is too much painful. I wiped away. It still is too much painful. I mean, i wiped away. It still is too | much painful. I mean, its haunting. Much painful. I mean, its haunting, that much painful. I mean, its haunting, that image much painful. I mean, its haunting, that image of i much painful. I mean, its. Haunting, that image of the young girl amongst her family. The same Year Massoud took that picture, President Barack 0bama announced the withdrawal of Tens Of Thousands of american troops From the country. 0ver troops From the country. Over the next few years, the taliban gained in strength and influence. Afghans like massoud started to see attacks against civilians become more common. In 2018, massoud narrowly avoided to Assassination Attempts on his life. In the first, his car was riddled with bullets. In the second attempt, a Suicide Bomber had targeted a group ofjournalists. I a Suicide Bomber had targeted a group ofjournalists. Group of ournalists. I was clicking, group ofjournalists. I was clicking, right, group ofjournalists. I was clicking, right, my group ofjournalists. I was l clicking, right, my camera. Group ofjournalists. I was clicking, right, my camera. The explosion happened From left to right in my view of the camera, in my frame. Right in my view of the camera, in my Frame Right in my view of the camera, in my frame. Massoud lost nine of his friends in my frame. Massoud lost nine of his friends and in my frame. Massoud lost nine of his friends and colleagues i of his friends and colleagues in the blast. In the blast. That attack was completely in the blast. That attack was completely and in the blast. That attack was completely and exactly in the blast. That attack was i completely and exactly against journalists. The only chance in luck that i had, i was ten metres away, that said, otherwise we were all being killed there. And because of remembering this time of my life, Ifi Remembering this time of my life, if i die or not, i kind of plant those trees for reminding this, whenever happens, these trees will be there. I happens, these trees will be there. ,. ,. , there. I find it extraordinary that ou there. I find it extraordinary that you are there. I find it extraordinary that you are saying, there. I find it extraordinary that you are saying, whenever i die, this should remain a reminder, because you feel its just something hanging over you. Itsjust something hanging over yep over you. Well, i see this because over you. Well, i see this because those over you. Well, i see this because those who over you. Well, i see this because those who i over you. Well, i see this i because those who i know, right, i knew, those journalists, and i knew about their dreams and their plans for their life, theyve been killed so easily, so i will be another one, right . Buti killed so easily, so i will be another one, right . But i did my, i mean, responsibility for my, i mean, responsibility for my own homeland. I was fall in love with afghanistan through my work, through photography and i did, i dont know how we can say english. And i did, i dont know how we can say english. Can say english. You are lo al. Can say english. You are loyal i can say english. You are loyal. I was can say english. You are loyal. Iwas loyal can say english. You are loyal. I was loyal for can say english. You are loyal. I was loyal for my i can say english. You are i loyal. I was loyal for my own country and loyal. I was loyal for my own country and i loyal. I was loyal for my own country and i did loyal. I was loyal for my own country and i did my loyal. I was loyal for my own country and i did my best. I country and i did my best. Seeing massoud confined to fall wall for walls was a sign of the growing taliban resurgence. But its notjustjournalists who feel threatened. With allied troops on their way out and a taliban staging ever more brazen attacks, wide sectors of Afghan Society now fear for their Lives. Afghan society now fear for their Lives. ~. Their Lives. We saw an increase in attacks. Their Lives. We saw an increase in attacks, religious their Lives. We saw an increase in attacks, religious scholars, l in attacks, religious scholars, journalists. Human rights act visits. They were notjust engaged in work, they were fighting for peace and they are being killed. Being killed. Scheherazade Pio Tuwai is the being killed. Scheherazade Pio Tuwai is the chairperson being killed. Scheherazade Pio Tuwai is the chairperson of being killed. Scheherazade Pio Tuwai is the chairperson of the afghan independent human Rights Commission which investigates Human Rights Abuses in afghanistan. D0 Human Rights Abuses in afghanistan. Human rights abuses in afghanistan. Do you have anything afghanistan. Do you have anything you afghanistan. Do you have anything you can afghanistan. Do you have anything you can do afghanistan. Do you havel anything you can do where afghanistan. Do you have anything you can do where you can relax or you just home in the office . Home in the Office Maybe. The office . Home in the Office Ma be. ,. , maybe. Dealing with my son. Kee s maybe. Dealing with my son. Keeps you maybe. Dealing with my son. Keeps you very maybe. Dealing with my son. Keeps you very busy . Maybe. Dealing with my son. Keeps you very busy . It maybe. Dealing with my son. L keeps you very busy . It keeps me enjoy. I keeps you very busy . It keeps me enjoy me enjoy. I have one that is obsessed me enjoy. I have one that is obsessed with me enjoy. I have one that is obsessed with trains. Obsessed with trains. Everything is about trains. As you say, they do bring a lot of joy, you say, they do bring a lot of joy, yes. You say, they do bring a lot of o , es. � you say, they do bring a lot of joy. Yes joy, yes. But also, constant wor. Joy, yes. But also, Constant Worry yeah joy, yes. But also, Constant Worry. Yeah. You joy, yes. But also, Constant Worry. Yeah. You know . I joy, yes. But also, constant. Worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, joy, yes. But also, Constant Worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes joke, worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes joke, i worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes joke, i am worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes joke, i am only worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i sometimes joke, i am only a worry. Yeah. You know . Yeah, i l sometimes joke, i am only a mum sometimesjoke, i am only a mum at home. He plays in front of the complex we live in every day. Sometimes i arrive, he asks me to walk with him, he Will Cry if i go upstairs, and ijust stay for a Will Cry if i go upstairs, and i just stay for a few minutes very nervously, wearing my mask, hoping people will see not him but me. People know who i am but ijust dont want to know he is my son. If people know, they might hurt him. Its an incomplete experience. Scheherazades fears are justified. Last summer, a Bomb Attack killed two of her colleagues, fatima Hallil And Jawad fulad. When they were on their way to work, and exclusion blew up and killed them both. Exclusion blew up and killed them both them both. Not instantly, i laelieve every morning that i i know that pete � s might come to afghanistan, i know it might come, inshaallah, but all these people have lost their children, their Lives have changed forever, their Lives have changed forever. I wonder, when you have changed forever. I wonder, when you leave have changed forever. I wonder, when you leave home have changed forever. I wonder, when you leave home every have changed forever. I wonder, | when you leave home every day, every morning, you say goodbye to your child. Do you think, i may not come back . The field that i may not come back . The field that i work may not come back . The field that i work in, may not come back . The field that i work in, its may not come back . The field that i work in, its not may not come back . The field that i work in, its notjust that i work in, its notjust me, its my colleagues as well and every morning when they leave the home, they dont know they will be back stop its the same for me, when i leave in the morning, i dont know if i will see my family. Since i became a mum, there is always this doubt. Do i have the right to do this . Because there is someone elses life at stake. , ~ , there is someone elses life at stake. ~ ,. , stake. Targeted killings are art of a stake. Targeted killings are part of a new stake. Targeted killings are part of a new form stake. Targeted killings are part of a new form of stake. Targeted killings are i part of a new form of Warfare Thatis part of a new form of warfare that is taken root in afghanistan. Fatima Hallil And Jawad fulad were two of over 700 people assassinated in 2020 across the country. Every time we are stuck in traffic, there is a certain worry. Its so tense here. Everything is on edge, that may be the car in front of you might explode, next to you, or there might be some kind of targeted killing. It is an absolutely precarious and uncertain situation. I wanted to put some questions about the Security Situation directly to the government, as they seem to be struggling to keep a hold of the security in the areas they control. I approach the Vice President , a man with a long and personal history with the taliban, having bought directly in the 90s, becoming Intelligence Chief in the early to thousands. Chief in the early to thousands. ,. ,. , chief in the early to thousands. ,. , thousands. Let me show you some ofthe thousands. Let me show you some of the pictures thousands. Let me show you some of the pictures of thousands. Let me show you some of the pictures of my thousands. Let me show you some of the pictures of my kids. Thousands. Let me show you some of the pictures of my kids. I of the pictures of my kids. I used to take them to the office with me. , , used to take them to the office with me. Who i with me. This is my son. Who was in the with me. This is my son. Who was in the car with me. This is my son. Who was in the car with with me. This is my son. Who was in the car with you . With me. This is my son. Who was in the car with you . I with me. This is my son. Who | was in the car with you . I said so new are was in the car with you . I said so new are alive was in the car with you . I said so new are alive and was in the car with you . I said so new are alive and i was in the car with you . I said so new are alive and i am was in the car with you . I saidj so new are alive and i am glad you are with me because this is patriotism, earned the hard way. Patriotism, earned the hard wa. ,. Patriotism, earned the hard wa. ,. ,. ,. ,. Way. One year ago the Vice President way. One year ago the Vice President and way. One year ago the Vice President and his way. One year ago the Vice President and his son way. One year ago the Vice President and his son narrowly avoided an attempt on his life after his convoy was struck by after his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb. Not long after this, Mr Sali set up daily Security Briefings at 6 30am each morning in a bid to stem the violence consuming carpal. Debriefings have taken place every morning for the past 200 days. Ii every morning for the past 200 Da S. ,. ,. Every morning for the past 200 Da S. , days. If you want you could oin days. If you want you could join me days. If you want you could join me. Vice days. If you want you could join me. Vice president days. If you want you could | join me. Vice president Sali Ave Us join me. Vice president sali gave us rare join me. Vice president sali gave us rare access join me. Vice president sali gave us rare access to join me. Vice president Sali I gave us rare access to attend one of the meetings. If you think about kabul city, i have come back after several years, people are saying to me they cant leave their house at night, women dont feel safe, people dont feel safe, there are different Militia Groups in the city. How has it come to this . ,. , this . Those were there before the 630 meetings. This . Those were there before the 630 meetings. Have this . Those were there before the 630 meetings. Have you l the 630 meetings. Have you thwarted many the 630 meetings. Have you thwarted many attacks the 630 meetings. Have you thwarted many attacks as i the 630 meetings. Have you thwarted many attacks as a l thwarted many attacks as a result . ~. ,. , j~ result . We have foiled 850 Attacks in result . We have foiled 850 Attacks in 200 result . We have foiled 850 Attacks in 200 days. Result . We have foiled 850 Attacks in 200 days. Those | result . We have foiled 850 Attacks in 200 days. Those that would have gone off, yes, failures, but 850 have been stopped. This is my chief of staff. ,. , the first speaker at the Security Briefing was the mp for the remote province who had come to demand answers From the Security Services following the murder of her brother. What i heard in the meeting was shocking. The Vice President was determined that i dont just take his word for it. Arranged for us to get access to the presence, and speak directly with some of the recently detained taliban suspects. We havejust arrived at the headquarters of the national directorate of security. We have been promised that we can meet some prisoners accused of being behind some of the targeted killings of Civil Society and journalists. You cant see it now, but we are in a heavily fortified area. 0nce a heavily fortified area. Once we had made it inside the compound, the Prison Guards presented us with a series of taliban recruits, who stood accused of committing attacks against a range of targets, From government officials, journalists, and even schoolgirls. Can there not be standing there . Can we shut the door . It was important that i spoke to the prisoners alone could you please tell me why you are in this prison . As the interviews went on, i realise these people were far From terrorist mastermind. He was understandably keen to demonstrate success � s Security Forces were having in Capturing Taliban fighters. But it was hard for me to tell under such pressure From the guards whether or not to willingness of these three prisoners to speak with me was a sincere. And if they could give me the whole story. One person who i wanted to speak to again was the mp halima karimi, who had spoken at the security meeting. The only woman in the room, she had come to the meeting to petition the Vice President over the lack of investigation into her brothers murder. In response to the mps accusations, the Vice President s office has said the investigation into the murder is still ongoing. People here arent asking for very much, they are asking for the basic human rights, to be able to leave their homes every morning and to know that they will return alive, to have dinner with their families, will return alive, to have dinner with theirfamilies, to dinner with their families, to be dinner with theirfamilies, to be able to come to pass like this and have a picnic with their relatives and friends and family. And frankly, right now, thats a long way off. After my meeting with halima karimi, i got a call From masood, saying he was at a rare outing to take photos at a local hilltop. There is no certainty at all, nothing basically and everybody On The Air now, they dont know what to do. On the air now, they dont know what to do On The Air now, they dont know what to do what to do. But you Cant Give u . What to do. But you Cant Give u . Its what to do. But you Cant Give up . Its one what to do. But you Cant Give up . Its one of what to do. But you Cant Give up . Its one of those what to do. But you Cant Give up . Its one of those things i up . Its one of those things were people have no choice. The Cant Give were people have no choice. The Cant Give up were people have no choice. He Cant Give up because were people have no choice. True Cant Give up because they dont have choice, thats true, but having no choice doesnt mean hope. They have to live in this situation, they have to. That it. I this situation, they have to. That it. ,. , that it. I have met with a wide rante of that it. I have met with a wide range of afghans. That it. I have met with a wide range of afghans. Human that it. I have met with a wide L Range of afghans. Human rights activist, journalist, government officials, and man suspected of killing for the taliban because. Im left with a sense that ordinary afghans are caught up in a ward that nobody can hide From. Somehow, there is still a glimmer of hope. Injoe hart, talks are ongoing over a possible Peace Deal and the government. Next time, i will be meeting with senior taliban officials and commanders From the Front Line in a bid to understand what lies ahead for afghanistan. 0ther Taliban ready to compromise . 0rwill they take compromise . Or will they take the compromise . 0rwill they take the by force . Hello there. Its going to be one of those weekends where we get a bit of sunshine and a bit of rain, as well. It looks like saturday will be a much drier day in scotland, where weve had a lot of Shower Clouds on friday. Well see more cloud coming in From the South West, as well and that is due to this area of low Pressure Thatll just hang around, really, through the weekend. It means as we start the weekend, weve got quite Muggy Air across the south of england, south wales, 15 celsius here. Its Cooler Air that weve got in scotland with those showers in the north, 10 11 celsius. The showers in scotland do to become fewer, mind you. A bit of a dull, misty, damp start across parts of wales and the South West of england. And this cloud gradually working its way northwards. More in the way of sunshine across scotland as those stars become fewer, but The Cloud will be increasing in Northern Ireland and northern england, bringing a bit of Rain And Drizzle especially later on in the day. Could be a bit damp still across the north of wales, even across to the north midlands into East Anglia. But to the south of here, we should get some sunshine through, especially in the southeast of england. Temperatures reaching a pleasant 23 celsius, and we could make 19 or 20 in the sunshine in the Central Belt of scotland. Now, that area of low pressure moves slowly into the uk. A few Weather Fronts on the scene all pretty weak, mind you. This one here will bring more in the way of showers, wetter weather into the North And Northeast of scotland. Could be some rain first thing on sunday in Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, moving its way southwards into northern england. Find it brightening up, as well, across Southern Scotland and Northern Ireland. But a few more showers and more cloud coming into wales and the South West. Head further east towards the East Anglia and the east, again, the best of the sunshine. For many, temperatures arent changing much, but its getting colder in northern scotland. Southern europe, though, sees extreme heat through this weekend, could see Temperates Hitting. Could see Temperates Hitting 48 celsius. By contrast, its a Cooler Northeasterly Breeze heading our way for the start of the new week. Probably wont be much Rain Overnight rain clears away From southern parts of england, were left with a few showers. Probably quite a bit of Cloud Streaming our way, as well, and that colder air that were seeing in scotland is pushing its way southwards across the uk. So top temperature 20 21 celsius in hampshire. As we head further into next week, its fairly quiet, settled a few showers. A lot of cloud, mind you, and its not looking particularly warm for this time of year. This is Bbc World News im lewis vaughanjones. Our top Stories Crisis in afghanistan. Taliban militants capture the countrys second largest city and fears are mounting that the capital kabul, may be under threat. The majority of the population there waiting to see how things will unfold with a mixture of fear, anxiety and reservation. President biden is still insisting that pulling us forces out of the country was the right decision, but is facing growing criticism. When the decision came months ago, i said this would be a nightmare. In the uk, a vigil has been held to remember