INTERNATIONAL: The generation of young Taliban fighters that conquered Kabul has gone through the euphoria of victory to face an uncertain future as the country they won after two decades of war plunges ever deeper into economic crisis.

Most have known only fighting and while their battlefield memories may be a source of pride, they must now adjust to a world that wants to forget about war.

Many of them have joined the Taliban after U.S. forces attacked their villages or killed their relatives. Some despised the corruption of the U.S.-backed Afghan government. Others were urged, even trained, to fight by relatives inside the Taliban. Preachers at their madrassas portrayed Americans as invaders seeking to kill Muslims and encouraged students to wage a religious jihad against the foreigners.

The young fighters were also fed a steady stream of revisionist history about 9/11 and positive imagery of al-Qaeda, especially its founder — the architect of the U.S. attacks, who was given safe harbor in Afghanistan by the Taliban during its previous rule.

“Osama bin Laden was a hero and a mujahid,” said Sharafuddin Shakir, 19, using the Arabic word for those engaged in a holy war. The lean fighter was surrounded by militants inside a former U.S. military outpost in Ghazni province that they now controlled.

His comrades nodded in agreement.

For the moment, four months after the fall of Kabul, many still bask in the achievement of overcoming the United States and its allies after a struggle that ruled their lives for so long.

"When I started in the Jihad against the Americans, I was 14 or 15 years old," said Nasratullah, a 24-year-old from Wardak province. "During that time, my brother was our group leader and I used to participate in some battles only. But when I turned 20, I spent all my time with the mujahidin and in battle."

Thousands were killed and maimed by Taliban suicide bombers during their long campaign to overthrow the Western-backed government and for many in Kabul the sight of the long-haired fighters on the streets caused only shock and fear.

That feeling has eased as the Kalashnikov-wielding insurgents in their rag-tag mix of loose traditional clothing and combat jackets have been replaced by uniformed security forces.

But fears of revenge against anyone associated with the former government remain, and there are concerns over what will happen to women and to girls who are still largely excluded from high school education.

Nasratullah has blamed American propaganda for tarnishing the image of the Taliban. "In the past 20 years, Americans had occupied our country and attacked us in various ways. They have created a mindset in our people through the media and portrayed us as bad people."

But as Kabul recovers from the trauma of August to face a mounting economic crisis, the challenge facing the Taliban was summed up by Kabul resident Abdul Karim. "We are happy that we are secure and there is no corruption anymore but the main problem we are facing is poverty and joblessness. Government employees have not been receiving their salaries for the past three months and there is no labour job anymore, so these problems are still in place," he said.

Fellow Kabul resident Khadija has expressed her skepticism for women's rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban. "From my point of view, the women's future is dark in Afghanistan. If the Taliban gives rights to women in all aspects, then definitely the women will progress in the future. And if not, then the women will have a dark future."

The international community is pressing the Taliban to make concessions on issues like broadening government beyond the ranks of veteran jihadists or guaranteeing women's rights. That will test the cohesion of a movement which proved itself on the battlefield but which must now face the challenges of peace.

For now, it is an uphill battle for the Taliban to win hearts and minds even as they continue to bask in pride for their achievements in the war. "I am so delighted because we have fulfilled all the ambitions that we have been carrying for the past 20 years. This has been the hope of the entire Afghan nation to live in a peaceful environment," Nasratullah has said.