Photographing the Taliban: How Afghanistan's New Rulers Control Their Image

Since the end of August, the Taliban have returned to power in Afghanistan.

And they want to show it to the world.

Three photojournalists, who have met and photographed these new masters of Kabul, tell us about their communication strategy, their relationship to the image, the faces they agree to show, those they hide, but also the moments of humanity that they capture in their reports.

To discover

• EXCLUSIVE - With the new masters of Kabul, our report at the heart of the Taliban power

Proud and victorious soldiers, flags of Taliban propaganda

Image from a propaganda clip dated late August / early September 2021 showing Taliban special forces - Fatih Zwak or "Victorious Force" - displaying their victory after the takeover of Afghanistan.

These soldiers use vehicles, equipment, uniforms left by the Americans.

Balkis Press / ABACA

On propaganda photographs broadcast in clips that shot between late August and early September on social networks or pro Taliban news sites, the special forces -

"Fatih Zwak" or "Victorious Force" -

parade.

Over-equipped, armed to the teeth, striking a pose on pick-ups, the Taliban soldiers display their strength and power, with American uniforms and equipment.

They pose proudly, victorious.

Kabul Airport, August 31, 2021. A Taliban fighter strikes a pose, seated in the cockpit of an Afghan Air Force plane after the departure of US troops.

Wakil Kohsar / AFP

The photographer Véronique de Viguerie, who published a report in the Figaro Magazine in September, has them a lot

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