Afghans enjoy freedom from Taleban

Lifting the veil: now they're free to choose

By Pam O'Toole

Residents of Mazar-e-Sharif have told the BBC that the city is calm, with people going about their daily business.

Northern Alliance soldiers are said to be visible on the streets.

But local residents - speaking to the BBC Persian Service by telephone - say that so far there has been no sign of the bloodshed which marked previous takeovers of the city.

Both men and women are reported to be taking advantage of the more liberal lifestyle allowed by the Northern Alliance.

Before the Taleban took over, Mazar was one of Afghanistan's most liberal cities.

It had television and radio stations. Women were allowed to work and attend schools and universities.

The city's residents - predominantly ethnic Tajiks Uzbeks and Hazaras - deeply resented the restrictions imposed by the conservative and largely Pashtun Taleban.

They are now taking the opportunity to discard them.

Residents say that women are again out on the streets without having to be escorted by a husband or a male relative.

They are also visiting Mazar's most holy shrine - an opportunity denied them under Taleban rule.

On the offensive: opposition fighters

Meanwhile, men are reported to be queuing outside barber shops, anxious to trim their hair and rid themselves of the beards which the Taleban insisted they wear.

People are enjoying listening to music.

Although some shops are still closed, many are open. Some of the city's ethnic Pashtuns - who make up about a third of the population - were originally said to have been scared that they might be targeted by Northern Alliance troops.

But local people say that, so far, there appears to be no sign of the bloodletting which many remember from past occasions when the city has changed hands.

According to one man, this time people are more confident that the Northern Alliance can hold on to Mazar, because they now have the backing of the Americans.