Afghanistan’s ‘Kim Kardashian’ performed at her country’s Independence Day celebrations despite threats from extremists.
Aryana Sayeed, who is often likened to reality TV star Kim for her revealing clothes and flashy selfies, defied the ultra-conservatives who oppose women performing in public.
Afghan security forces were on high alert Saturday as the war-weary country, reeling from a number of high-profile deadly attacks, marked the day with largely muted celebrations.
But glamorous pop start Sayeed took to the stage in Kabul in a rather demure floor-length green, black and red dress.
‘The concert will one hundred percent be held on Saturday evening,’ she defiantly told Tolo News before the concert in Kabul on Saturday.
Aryana Sayeed, dubbed Afghanistan’s ‘Kim Kardashian’, performed at her country’s Independence Day celebrations despite threats from extremists
‘The concert will one hundred percent be held on Saturday evening,’ Aryana (pictured) said before Saturday’s show
Aryana Sayeed (right) is often likened to reality TV star Kim Kardashian (left) for her revealing clothes and flashy selfies
And it did. Hundreds of young Afghans came to see her perform in the heavily protected Intercontinental Hotel.
It was supposed to be held in Ghazi stadium – for which 3,000 tickets were sold at premium rates – but security could not be guaranteed.
Sayeed is one of the judges of popular television music talent show Afghan Star – and a staunch women’s rights activist.
Born in Kabul but based mainly in London, she is despised by religious conservatives for the stylish Western-styled clothes she wears and her social media presence.
There was an increased police presence in the capital Kabul where President Ashraf Ghani hosted a private ceremony for Afghan dignitaries.
‘All of our police units are on the highest state of alert and they are placed everywhere across the city,’ said Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid.
‘We have increased the number of police checkpoints in and around the diplomatic quarters (too),’ he added, amid fears that the Taliban would mark the anniversary with a large-scale attack.
Hundreds of young Afghans attended the concert in the heavily protected Intercontinental Hotel
Aryana’s concert was supposed to be held in Ghazi stadium – for which 3,000 tickets were sold at premium rates – but security could not be guaranteed
Sayeed is one of the judges of popular television music talent show Afghan Star – and a staunch women’s rights activist
August 19 commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi in 1919, which granted Afghanistan full independence from Britain, although the country was never part of the British empire, after three bloody wars.
While Afghanistan’s red, black and green tricolour flag adorned many Kabul streets, the day was largely going unobserved by ordinary Afghans, who are frustrated by the deteriorating security situation and the lack of progress by the US-led international coalition forces.
The city has been on edge since a massive truck bomb ripped through its diplomatic quarter during morning rush hour on May 31, killing about 150 and wounding around 400 people, mostly civilians, in an unclaimed attack.
Taliban insurgents are currently at the peak of their summer fighting season and have launched several deadly assaults around the country in recent weeks.
Ghani welcomed dozens of Afghan officials for a morning ceremony at the presidential palace and laid a wreath at the independence minaret inside the defence ministry compound.
Born in Kabul but based mainly in London, she is despised by religious conservatives for the stylish Western-styled clothes she wears and her social media presence
On Instagram, where she has more than 250,000 followers, Aryana describes herself as a ‘Singer, songwriter, composer… TV Host, woman activist’
‘A very happy Independence Day to everyone in AFG,’ Ghani said on Twitter. This day was earned with lots of sacrifices. We must pay homage & celebrate this legacy.’
While some Afghans changed their Facebook profile pictures to the Afghan flag or to Amanullah Khan, the king who secured Afghanistan’s independence, others lamented that the fight against the Taliban, now in its 16th year, meant there was little to celebrate.
‘What independence day are we talking about when we are still at war with terrorism and don’t seem to be winning against it?’ one user wrote on the social media site.
The day got under way as US President Donald Trump wrapped up a meeting of his national security team at Camp David on Friday as he tries to forge a new strategy for Afghanistan.