Shoshana Stewart recalls Taliban takeover of Kabul: “Not a shot fired”

What was said

"Sitting there, one of my staff members gets a text message. They have come in through the Kabul city gates. By the late morning, they were in the presidential palace. It's finished. They are in charge. 100% free and clear. Not a shot fired."

Shoshana Stewart, describing her experience in Kabul during the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, says her team expected a months-long battle for the capital but instead saw the city fall within hours. She recalls receiving a text that the Taliban had entered through the city gates and says they were in the presidential palace by late morning without gunfire. Stewart also says Taliban members visited clinics and hospitals the next day telling staff to return to work, prompting her organisation to reopen quickly to avoid suspicion.