8am: Many residents of Kabul say that to stay safe from Taliban scrutiny and to gain the favor of their forces, they have been forced to wear the Kandahari hat, grow beards, and adopt traditional clothing. While some view this change as a return to traditional values, public accounts indicate that for many, this shift is primarily out of necessity and adaptation to conditions that now affect even the simplest daily choices. Some men say that to avoid problems and not attract attention, they have adopted clothing similar to that of the Taliban. The Taliban’s insistence on traditional clothing has led even some who previously wore the pakol to abandon it and wear the Kandahari hat to gain the group’s favor. Click here to read more (external link).