KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The cool 1960s-style lines of the Ariana Cinema’s marquee stand out over a traffic-clogged roundabout in downtown Kabul. For decades, the historic cinema has entertained Afghans and borne witness to Afghanistan’s wars, hopes and cultural shifts. After recapturing power three months ago, the Taliban ordered the Ariana and other cinemas to stop operating. Like the rest of the country, the Ariana is in a strange limbo, waiting to see how the Taliban will rule. The Taliban ordered female government employees to stay away from their workplaces so they don’t mix with men, until they determine whether they will be allowed to work.
