The Taliban has taken over almost all of Afghanistan in less than a month surprising the world and raising concerns about the security and rights of its citizens, especially given memories of their repressive regime in the late 1990s.

The Taliban say they have changed and promised they will allow women to continue education and work, provided they wear the hijab. They have also not executed any opposition leaders or indulged in "revenge" acts as witnessed the first time they assumed power in 1996. They have also not said they will ban cinema, TV or music as happened in the past.

News of their return to power has been met with some felicitations by Pakistan's top religious figures who have termed it a "historic victory against the superpower".

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), has sent a congratulatory message to the Taliban, saying, "with the help and support of Allah Almighty, the Taliban Mujahideen have liberated their homeland from the world powers."

Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Siraj-ul-Haq also congratulated the Taliban on the historic victory over the superpower on behalf of 220 million Pakistanis.

عوام نے طالبان کے لیے دروازے کھولے، ان کا استقبال کیا۔ افغانستان میں ایک مثالی اسلامی حکومت قائم ہو گئی تو ان شاء اللہ اس کے اثرات، خوشبو اور کرنیں ہر طرف پھیل جائیں گی pic.twitter.com/xMyiNiOsh1

— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) August 15, 2021

Prominent religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani likened the Taliban's occupation of Kabul has brought back memories of the conquest of Mecca.

کابل میں طالبان کے پرامن داخلے، عام معافی اور امن کی ضمانت نے فتح مکہ کی یاد تازہ کی اور دنيا بھر کی ٹیکنالوجی سے لیس طاقتوں کو عملاًُ بتادیا کہ ایمان کی قوت کے آگے کوئی طاقت ٹھہر نہیں سکتی بشرطیکہ وہ ہر قربانی کے لئے تیار ہو کاش ہم اور عالم اسلام اس معجزے سے سبق لے سکیں

— Muhammad Taqi Usmani (@muftitaqiusmani) August 15, 2021

While Prime Minister Imran Khan has not issued an official statement, while addressing the launch ceremony Single National Curriculum in Islamabad on Monday, said that Afghan people have broken the chains of slavery in Afghanistan.

"There is more mental slavery than real slavery and it is more difficult to break its chains." "In Afghanistan, the people have broken the chains of slavery," he said.