(6 Jan 1999) Pashtu/Natsound Rare footage of Taliban fighters on guard in a mountainous province in Afghanistan has shown them to be armed and ready for any attacks from outside. The Taliban controls most of Afghanistan and has imposed strict Islamic rule - those who don't obey face the death penalty. Many blame the Taliban for increasing the suffering of Afghanistan's already impoverished people. A Taliban fighter shoots out from Dangam in Afghanistan's Kunar province firing into a lush mountain range - a sight the outside world does not often see. The commanders said they had heard some shooting in the distance and were ready and waiting for any eventuality - this time though it was a false alarm. The Taliban, which means "students of Islam," emerged in 1994, pledging to bring peace to Afghanistan after years of civil war triggered by a Soviet invasion. Many are here in Dangam in the Kunar province which straddles the Pakistani border and the Hindu Kush mountain range. The area has a population of 262-thousand people and it was in this province that the first bullet was fired in the Mujahadeen's lengthy struggle against Afghanistan's former communist rulers. Now Dangam is the Taliban's northern frontline with an opposing alliance of warlords. This rare footage shows the fighters in action defending their territory. The hardline Taliban controls most of Afghanistan including the capital Kabul and has imposed strict Islamic rule - anyone who disobeys has to face the death penalty. The Taliban has banned foreign media from entering the country and the outside world rarely gets a look into the strict Islamic nation. Fighting is still rife between Taliban forces and opposition groups. The anti-Taliban coalition is mostly made up of Afghanistan's minority ethnic and religious groups, factions that sometimes fight each other as well as the Taliban army. In the past, the Taliban have suffered heavy casualties trying to fight their way north of Kabul into the Panjshir Valley - territory held by Ahmed Shah Masood, the military chief they pushed from the capital in 1996. Almost two decades of unrest has left its mark in this central Asian country. Poverty is rife - until now humanitarian programmes have been helping residents with basic needs, such as food, water and medical care. Although the people of Afghanistan struggle to survive - the Taliban is well equipped. They are fully armed and communicate with each other by walkie talkies. The Taliban commanders have their own hideouts where they eat and sleep. But for the population at large, aid is hard to come by and there are few medical provisions. Here, people suffer because there are no doctors in the region. Zabeeullah's parents tried to treat his ear infection - but it only got worse. Many aid workers who may have helped youngsters in the past left the country towards the end of 1998 after being ordered by the Taliban to move into rundown dormitories. Aid workers said they feared for their safety in the dormitories, and didn't have the money to make extensive repairs. Children have been suffering for a long time now -- there are no schools here and the youngsters know the Taliban are responsible for their way of life. UPSOUND: (Pashtu) "There are no schools here ... if one opens we would go. There is a madrassa (religious school) but that is closed for the winter break." Q- Do you go out to play A- Yes Q- Are there problems here? A-Of course there are " SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Abdullah A local teacher said the children know no different and that tension seems to be rising all the time. UPSOUND: (Pashtu) Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7a64cdc756a7c041eadeeeee8b8dd0e2