Afghan orchestras in peril: ‘I cannot imagine a society without music’

Founder of institute that has transformed lives of impoverished children fears return to silent nation' under Taliban rule

For more than a decade, Ahmad Sarmast has taken impoverished children from the streets of Afghanistan and filled their lives with music. One, an orphan girl who hawked chewing gum in one of the most conservative areas of the country, became a conductor of Afghanistan's first all-female orchestra.

All that is now at risk as the Taliban tighten their grip on power.