Hasht-e Subh Publishes Note on Changes in Kabul's Urban Culture

A note published by Hasht-e Subh describes walking through Kabul's streets as an encounter with years of social pressure, change, and fatigue. The author observes that the city, once defined by simple warm interactions such as greetings to passersby, adherence to queues, and phrases like 'thank you' or 'don't stay behind,' now shows signs of haste and disconnection. In queues for bread or at bus stops, lines dissolve quickly, eye contact is rare, and brief conversations are scarce.

Public appearances reflect economic and psychological strains, with disheveled clothing and tired faces indicating priorities shifted toward basic needs over neatness or grooming. The hurried gait and downcast gazes of pedestrians signal underlying pressures on collective morale.

Children and adolescents, instead of attending school, work at intersections or wander streets, missing opportunities for social values and cooperation. This deprivation affects not just individuals but the city's future cultural fabric.

Women face restrictions on social presence and participation, leading to cautious engagement in daily activities. Their reduced visibility in public spaces like bookstores, universities, and cultural gatherings diminishes urban cultural dynamism.

Cultural and artistic spaces have declined, with fewer poetry readings, music events, exhibitions, or public gatherings. Walls once adorned with cultural posters now stand silent, eroding senses of belonging and social cohesion.

Urban environments show littering, disregard for traffic rules, and waning collective responsibility for public spaces, turning disorder into habit as individual-city disconnect grows.

Despite challenges, the author notes signs of resilience: occasional smiles, neighborly help, or individual efforts to clean alleys, suggesting urban culture can be rebuilt from small acts.