Owner of Kabul bookstore has no plans to close up shop

The man made famous in the international bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul has no plans to close his doors.

Shah Muhammad Rais told The National that while he’s only seen two customers since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, he’ll remain open.

After all, he said, he’s seen multiple regime changes since he founded his store in 1974 — and was in fact jailed under one (the Soviets).

Rais is even thinking beyond survival, with plans to digitalize the entire bookshop.

He and his employees shared more thoughts about the literary (and political) landscape in Afghanistan with The National.

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