Once prisoners, Taliban fighters are now the guards in Kabul jail

Once Kabul’s main prison was crowded with thousands of Taliban prisoners captured and arrested by the government. A Taliban commander strolled through its empty halls and cell blocks, showing his friends where he had once been imprisoned. The Taliban now run Pul-e-Charkhi Prison, a sprawling complex on Kabul’s eastern outskirts. After capturing the city, the fighters freed all the inmates there, the government guards fled, and now dozens of Taliban fighters are running the facility.

Once Kabul’s main prison was crowded with thousands of Taliban fighters captured and arrested by the government. Now, the prison Pul-e-Charkhi, a sprawling complex on Kabul’s eastern outskirts is under the complete control of Taliban. Credit: Reuters Photo

After capturing Afghanistan, the Taliban fighters freed all the inmates there, the government guards fled, and now dozens of Taliban fighters are running the facility. Credit: AFP Photo

But for the Taliban fighters, it’s a moment to savour a victory after years of gruelling fighting — and to see a city few of them have entered since the war began. Credit: Reuters Photo

Recently, a Taliban commander strolled through its empty halls and cell blocks, showing his friends where he had once been imprisoned. Credit: AFP Photo

The commander, who refused to give his name, was on a personal visit to the complex with a group of his friends. Credit: AFP Photo

For some of the Taliban guards, it was the first time they had entered the abandoned cell blocks. Credit: AFP Photo

The fighters looked with curiosity through the cells, still littered with things the last inmates left behind — fabrics hanging from the walls and windows, small rugs, water bottles. Credit: AFP Photo

Pul-e-Charkhi had a long, disturbing history of violence, mass executions and torture. Mass graves and torture cells were uncovered dating from the Soviet-backed governments of the late 1970s and 1980s. Credit: AFP Photo

Under the US-backed government, it was more known for poor conditions and overcrowding — its 11 cell blocks were built to house 5,000 inmates, but were often packed with more than 10,000, including Taliban prisoners and criminals. Credit: AFP Photo

A member of the Taliban walks inside the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo