Taliban Use Tear Gas to Disperse Women's March as Currency Exchange Market Reopens in Kabul

US suspects some evacuated Afghans of having ties to the Taliban.

The Taliban used tear gas to disperse a women's march, and a currency exchange market reopened in Kabul. Here is what has happened in Afghanistan in recent days. 

Women's March

On September 4, Taliban militants in the Afghan capital used tear gas to disperse participants in a march for women's rights. 

The march began peacefully. Participants laid flowers at a memorial to soldiers killed fighting the Taliban, and then headed toward the presidential palace. When the women reached the palace, armed militants blocked their way. 

One of the march participants said that they fired into the air and used tear gas. At least one march participant was injured. After the gas was sprayed and shots were fired, the protesters scattered. 

A journalist for Tolo News reported that activist Narges Sadat was beaten by the Taliban. He published the corresponding video. 

Women's marches have been held in Kabul for a second day in a row ahead of the Taliban's announcement of the new government's composition. Participants demand guarantees of equal rights for women. 

The Taliban leadership initially promised that the new government would represent the interests of a wide range of the country's residents, but negotiations on forming the cabinet are so far mostly taking place within the movement. 

Also in Kabul, 17 people were killed and 41 were injured by 'celebratory gunfire' into the air.

Currency Exchange Market

On September 4, the Sarai Shahzada market, the largest currency exchange venue in Afghanistan, resumed operations in Kabul. The market had not operated since the Taliban seized Kabul. 

Sarai Shahzada is an important part of the country's financial system, where almost all transactions are made in cash. The market is used not only by residents and private companies, but also by government agencies. Banks and ATMs in Afghanistan were closed after the Taliban came to power. 

In September, the main branches of banks in Kabul resumed operations. However, because the country has a limit on cash withdrawals (20,000 afghanis or $200 per week), people sit in lines at banks for hours. 

The market exchange rate of the Afghan currency fell significantly under the Taliban. On September 4, $1 was worth about 89 afghanis, while before the Taliban took Kabul (in mid-August) it was 79 afghanis. 

US Suspicions

The US flagged about 100 evacuated Afghans as having possible ties to the Taliban. For at least two evacuees from Afghanistan, the suspicions of ties to terrorists are so strong that it has been decided to transfer them from the US to Kosovo for further checks. 

It also emerged that some of the evacuated Afghans had been deported from the US for various offenses. The Department of Homeland Security is deciding what to do with them. 

Of the roughly 30,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan to the US, about 10,000 need additional screening. 

NBC sources said that those under suspicion may not necessarily pose a threat. The issue is that some information, such as a name, biographical details or a phone number, provides grounds for additional checks.