This year the generation of Afghans born in 2001, when a U.S.-backed coalition toppled the Taliban, comes of age. As the United States engages in talks with the militants, young Afghans speak of their hopes and concerns for the future.
Hopes And Fears Of Young Afghans As Taliban Talks Advance
![Kawsar Sherzad, 17, at her Thai boxing club in Kabul. "Afghan females have made a lot of achievements in sports. I am optimistic that the Taliban will accept these achievements."](https://gdb.rferl.org/61db850f-0a43-4b15-9e3b-a4db80cb7023_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Kawsar Sherzad, 17, at her Thai boxing club in Kabul. "Afghan females have made a lot of achievements in sports. I am optimistic that the Taliban will accept these achievements."
![Afghan model Omid Arman, 21. "Everyone has the desire for peace in this country. We've witnessed a lot of conflicts. It's enough, we don't want to be witnesses to any more tragedy."](https://gdb.rferl.org/2f18506f-81b3-4c69-b6a9-23f5e95a0915_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Afghan model Omid Arman, 21. "Everyone has the desire for peace in this country. We've witnessed a lot of conflicts. It's enough, we don't want to be witnesses to any more tragedy."
![Freelance journalist Zainab Farahmand, 22. "We will only welcome the Taliban if they accept democracy and its values."](https://gdb.rferl.org/f6c27de1-cc8e-4b8e-ad3b-520fcd7e1bdf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Freelance journalist Zainab Farahmand, 22. "We will only welcome the Taliban if they accept democracy and its values."
![Sultan Qasim Sayeedi, 18, scours social media to study fashion. "We're afraid that if the Taliban come, we will not be able to hold our shows." But he also says it's time the fighting ended. "If American troops go, peace will come."](https://gdb.rferl.org/5d397694-c3fa-48e9-8359-26685dbd40f1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Sultan Qasim Sayeedi, 18, scours social media to study fashion. "We're afraid that if the Taliban come, we will not be able to hold our shows." But he also says it's time the fighting ended. "If American troops go, peace will come."