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Silence replaces old folk tunes in historic quarter of Kabul

Mobin Wesal, 35, a well known Afghan singer who switched to selling fabrics stands next to his stored musical instruments at his home in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Zabiullah Nuri, 45, covers his face to protect his identity as he shows his harmonium musical instrument that Taliban fighters broke with their guns when he was carrying it home from his shop, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Mobin Wesal, 35, a well known Afghan singer who switched to selling fabrics after the Taliban took over, checks merchandise at his shop, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) "Afghanistan Islamic Emirate," is written on the main entrance of the Music Institute, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Zabiullah Nuri, 45, covers his face to protect his identity, as he tries to fix his harmonium musical instrument that Taliban fighters broke with their guns when he was carrying it home from his shop, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Afghan vendors sit outside their shops where they used to repair and sell musical instruments and now sell kites, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Afghan musician and composer Nabih Baksh, gestures as he sits inside his shop, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2022. For 40 years Baksh repaired harmoniums, a skill he perfected over time. With the Taliban takeover he has turned into a spartan convenient shop where he sells soda and snacks. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Well known Afghan singer Mobin Wesal, 35, sings and plays his Harmonium musical instrument at his home in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. After the Taliban takeover Wesal turned from singing to selling fabrics. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Zabiullah Nuri, 45, covers his face to protect his identity, as he shows his harmonium musical instrument that Taliban fighters broke with their guns when he was carrying it home from his shop, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Afghan musician Nazir Amir Mohammed is hugged by a relative during an emotional farewell from relatives and neighbors as he prepares to leave the country for Iran, at Kucha Kharabat street, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2022. The songs are silent in the traditional musicians' quarter of Kabul's Old City, ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan six months ago. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)