Now, a year later, sitting behind a wooden desk with the large white and black flag of the Islamic Emirate beside it, he still seems to be adjusting to his new life. But he says he recognises the importance of his role. “We were fighting against our enemies with our guns, thanks to God we defeated them, and now we are trying to serve our people with our pens.” Ainudeen says he was happy while fighting, but also happy now.