QUETTA, Nov 24 : The joyless rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan may end up as a mere footnote in the country’s chequered history but for some people it seemed to last a lifetime.

The Islamic militia had banned music, singing, sport and even kite-flying.

Afghan refugees, who recently arrived in Pakistan, have been sampling pleasures denied to them for nearly a decade while some children have been tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time.

Jalat Khan, who left the southern city of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province earlier this year after six years of Taliban control, said it was one of the greatest moments of his life when he saw the reaction of his sons, Khaliqad, aged four, and two-year-old Jandad, when they first heard music.

“When we were in Afghanistan we were not able to play music or even sing,” he told AFP.

“ I have always loved the guitar. When I first heard music again I had to turn the volume right up.”

Khan said music had played a central role in Afghan culture over the centuries, specially at marriage ceremonies.

“At weddings we used to have guitars, harmoniums and drums but the Taliban stopped that. The day was not the same.”

Khan proudly displayed a brightly painted homemade drum which his children have been banging endlessly in the family’s tent in a makeshift refugee camp on the outskirts of this southwestern Pakistan city.

“If we had this back home, the Taliban would just smash it with their fists.

“I used to say that I would not have left Afghanistan if I could play the guitar. Now I will go back as soon as there is security.”

For 10-year-old Lalac Hazarat Gul, life free of the Taliban means he can get back to the serious business of flying a kite, a favourite pastime of Afghan children and adults alike.

The electricity pylons running through the camp are littered with the wreckage of cheap kites.

Lalac, who also came to Quetta from Lashkar Gah last year, said: “I love to play with kites. We can only make them with plastic bags but it is great fun.

“If they allowed us to fly kites again, I think I would be very happy to go back to Afghanistan.”

The refugees often while away their time with marathon football matches and cricket games on the parched and rutted ground around their tents.

Football was banned by the Taliban, partly as the militia would not allow men to run around in shorts. Cricket, with its long-trousered uniform, was one of the few sports that was allowed.

But for 19-year-old Islam Mohammed, the biggest joy of being free of the Taliban restrictions is that he can watch action movies once more.

Mohammed, who left Afghanistan six months ago, said he had managed to watch about 60 videos since his arrival in Pakistan, even though his family could not afford a television set.—AFP