A heartbreaking image of students at an Afghani school has gone viral on social media.
Shabnam Nasimi, Conservative Friends of Afghanistan director, posted an image to Twitter explaining how teachers were farewelling female pupils now that the Taliban has retaken control of the the country.
She wrote: "A photo of a school in Afghanistan closed due to security issues. The students showed up bright and early anyway.
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"Teachers said goodbye to their female students who won't be allowed to go to school anymore. A numbing helpless feeling."
Afghanistan has enjoyed more than a decade of women having the ability to go to school after the Taliban was ousted by an international military effort.
When the militant organisation was last in power women were banned from education and were practically 'erased from civic life'.
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Women weren't allowed to leave their homes unless they had a male companion and were condemned to a life of domestic servitude.
There are fears this will return now that the Taliban has retaken control of the country.
In a matter of days, insurgents launched a military campaign that swept through large parts of Afghanistan and culminated in the seizure of Kabul's Presidential Palace over the weekend.
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They have been in talks for a peaceful transfer of power after the President, Ashraf Ghani, fled to another country.
As they took over the country, viral images of defiant girls on their way to school illustrated their hope things might be different this time round.
However, experts aren't hopeful.
Pashtana Durrani, founder and executive director of LEARN, a charity focused on education in Afghanistan, told NPR what is happening to her country is devastating.
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"A lot of heartbreak has been there in the process," she said. "Girls, women in my family, they have been crying over everything that has been happening - men taking over streets, them celebrating their victories but at the same time, us losing our identity.
"I just saw this video from this lady, and she was telling everyone to go back to their work and the classes and all that. But then what is the guarantee? What is your guarantee that these girls going to schools can stay safe there, that the Taliban won't just come in and slap them left and right?"
Back in May, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said they would write into laws that would enable 'women to contribute to the country in a peaceful and protected environment'
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But Ms Durrani alleged the Taliban have already ordered women in one workplace to leave and get a male relative to fill in for them.
International militaries are doing all they can to evacuate as many people as possible, however the people who choose to stay will be confronted with questions about how their country will look in the future.
Featured Image Credit: PA