Taliban forces are trying to retake the last standing province in Afghanistan as General Mark Milley said there's a "good" chance of a civil war.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says 'of course' her government must talk with the Taliban in order to get people who have worked for German development organisations out of Afghanistan.

The Taliban whitewash the walls of the Afghan capital, erasing the colourful murals of Kabul, covering them with black and white Islamist texts and quotes from Taliban leaders, celebrating the departure of US troops. The Taliban are reportedly announcing a new government in the next few days, pledging inclusivity while many fear a return to the brutal regime of 1996 - 2001.

Afghans are struggling to get cash with banks still closed following the Taliban's takeover of the country. "I've been coming to the bank for four days now but I can't get my own money," says one resident.

At the age of just 26, Zarifa Ghafari became the first female mayor of the Afghan province of Maidan Wardak. She fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took power earlier this month. Now in safety in Germany, she explains that she left her country in order to avoid endangering her family. "I have always been at the top of the Taliban's blacklist," says Ghafari, whose father was assassinated last year. She tells FRANCE 24 how she plans to continue her fight for women's rights in Afghanistan. The young woman also calls for pressure on the Taliban leaders to negotiate.

The Taliban say that they want to ensure internet access in Afghanistan, but they could face substantial technical and financial challenges to keep it running. Afghans say they fear more surveillance and censorship. 

In this week's edition, we explore what the turmoil in Afghanistan could mean for the wider region, from emboldened extremist groups to political realignment. To understand what's at stake, we talk to Michael Kugelman, deputy director and senior associate for South Asia at The Wilson Center think tank.

The Taliban pledged press freedom and "no threats" against journalists in Afghanistan. But intimidation and violence at the hands of their fighters illustrate the group's haste in breaking its promises.

Once allies, Saudi Arabia and the Taliban have been divided by war, betrayal, and 9/11. As Afghanistan changes and Middle East relations shift, the two won't rekindle ties, but another nation is looking closely at Kabul.

Other invaders to Afghanistan "will face what the United States has faced today," says the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid during a press conference on the tarmac of Kabul airport hours after the last US troops left the country. The United States' longest military conflict drew to a close when its forces abandoned Kabul's airport, ending two decades of war.

The Taliban will shut down Afghanistan's media and are fooling the West by promising to let journalists operate freely, an award-winning Afghan photographer says after fleeing Kabul over threats by the group.

How to negotiate with the Taliban?