Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) Little by little, life appears to be creeping back to normal in Kabul, even though no one seem to know quite what this new normal -- life under the Taliban -- will look like once the dust settles and the last US troops leave the country. Kabul's streets were once again busy with traffic on Wednesday morning, with residents -- most of them men -- out and about. Armed Taliban fighters were certainly still around, patrolling the city in pickup trucks, but there were far fewer checkpoints operating, compared to recent days. The lighter presence of the Taliban in the streets of the Afghan capital on Wednesday was somewhat in line with the group's push to paint a new, less intimidating picture of themselves. Taliban leaders have been been saying for days that ordinary Afghans are not in danger now that they've taken over the country, urging government employees to return to work.

Source: CNN August 18, 2021 16:51 UTC