This might not mean much to most but I have an anecdote that puts a personal “face” on this news blip.

I led the first aerostat surveillance platform into Afghanistan and our site was FOB Ghazni. It has an immense history as Ghengis Khan built a castle on the hill overlooking the central mountainous city. The city had strategic importance as OBL once stated.

After a bad storm our first aerostat was damaged and flight ops ceased until a replacement could be trucked-in...no easy feat. During that down time a young Afghani SF-Interpreter came to me and asked in earnest, “when will you be up & flying again”? I informed him that for OPSEC I couldn’t divulge that but it wouldn’t be long. I asked him why he wanted to know? He told me that the Mothers in the village less than a kilometer away were now very scared. Evidently before we flew the aerostat they always kept their children indoors, taught and played with them but NEVER OUTDOORS. The Taliban would come through and raped the women & sometimes STOLE THE CHILDREN. Beat the men and women either way. He said since the aerostat had been flying the Taliban fled the area as they were scared of it’s presence. The children could GO OUT AND PLAY, fly their kites and enjoy life without fear. I hugged the young man and we both cried. I assured him to let them know SOON. SOON. I’m teared-up writing this as I just learned those SICK PEDOPHILIC BASTARDS have taken Ghazni. I think of those Mothers and children...

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/ghazni-city-falls-to-the-taliban.php