that's very interesting what you're saying, kamila. you're suggesting that afghanistan, its culture, and the role of women has changed so much in the last two decades that the taliban will simply be unable to turn back the clock? yes. i mean, are you suggesting that women, if they are told to no longer go to work in certain sectors, if the taliban tries to impose controls on women and girls, are you saying that women should resist? as you see the taliban announce for all the employees of the government, women and men, to go and join and start their activity and work. i think this is a big change, if you compare from the time 20 years ago. taliban also knows that there is a lot of educated women that they can work in the government and they can be in very important positions to support the country and be part of the development of this country. are you looking to go back as soon as possible to resume your business career and your ngo activities? sure, i will go back. the day that i feel that i can work there and my country needs me, and

that's very interesting what you're saying, kamila. you're suggesting that afghanistan, its culture, and the role of women, has changed so much in the last two decades that the taliban will simply be unable to turn back the clock? yes. i mean, are you suggesting that women, if they are told to no longer go to work in certain sectors, if the taliban tries to impose controls on women and girls, are you saying that women should resist? as you see the taliban announce for all the employees of the government, women and men, to go and join and start their activity and work. i think this is a big change, if you compare from the time 20 years ago. taliban also knows that there is a lot of educated women that they can work in the government and they can be in very important positions to support the country and be part of the development of this country. are you looking to go back as soon as possible to resume your business career and your ngo activities? sure, i will go back. the day that i feel that i can work there and my country needs me, an

you have to leave kabul. >> sy: she spoke to kamila again this morning. she had fled afghanistan over the weekend as the taliban overran kabul. >> how do you feel right now, you've just landed from afghanistan? >> no hope, right now i'm so sad because the majority of my friends, family, the activists, everybody is in kabul and everybody want to leave the country. >> sy: gayle spoke to kamila six years ago while she was visiting washington as deputy chief of staff for the afghan president. >> is there anything that gives you concern or things that keep you up at night worrying about the future? >> security, security of my country, especially those people that they are living in the very remote area and very different provinces, that there is no good life for a woman. >> sy: kamila has lived under taliban oppression before. >> what do you think this taliban will be like? they're telling the international community they are different and they're going to allow women and girls. >> people are afraid a lot, but let's see if they can be different. we will see fr

stephanie: she spoke to kamila again this morning. she had fled afghanistan over the weekend as the taliban overran kabul. gayle: how do you feel right now? you've just landed from afghanistan? >> no hope, right now i'm so sad because the majority of my friends, family, the activists, everybody is in kabul and everybody want to leave the country. [00:01:09][17.4] stephanie: gayle spoke to kamila six years ago while she was visiting washington as deputy chief of staff for the afghan president. gayle: is there anything that gives you concern or things that keep you up at night worrying about the future? >> security. security of my country, especially those people that they are living in the very remote area and very different provinces, that there is no good life for a woman. stephanie: kamila has lived under taliban oppression before. gayle: what do you think this taliban will be like? they're telling the international community they are different and they're going to allow women and girls. >> now people are afraid a lot, but let's see

then, the fight for rights -- prominent activist and former afghan government official kamila sidiqi discusses the precarious road ahead for women in afghanistan, as the taliban vows to respect them. >> people are afraid a lot, but let's see if they can be different. we will see from their action. judy: antt

then, the fight for rights-- prominent activist and former afghan government official kamila sidiqi discusses the precarious road ahead for women living in afghanistan, as the taliban vows to respect them. >> people are afraid a lot, but let's see if they can be different. we will see from their action. >> woodruff: and, getting the vaccine-- the biden adminiti

my guest is kamila sidiqi, a trail—blazing women's activist, entrepreneur, and former government official in kabul. is her cause lost? and where does the blame lie?

i want to get to kamila bernal with the most important element of this. you're talking to families who may soon lose their homes. what's their response to this current moment in time? >> look, phil, these families are just so worried. and it's because they don't know what's going to happen to them in the next couple of hours. they don't know where their children are going to be sleeping at night. and, of course, it is front and center for them. and as you mentioned, it's not just rent. it's back rent and that's the biggest issue here. what it means is people are either going to have to pay or they're going to be kicked out of their homes. according to the latest census data, about 7.4 million americans are behind on rent. and that was as of july 5th. so at the moment that number could be even higher. and it means that when someone owed $1,000, well, now it's 6,000, $7,000, $8,000 because of the back represent. and a lot of people just don't have that money at the moment. they do not have the cash. census data also showing that about 3.6 million people wer