Afghanistan marked five years of Taliban rule on Saturday as supporters gathered across major cities.
In Kabul, Afghans decorated cars with Taliban flags and drove through the streets. Meanwhile, authorities increased security checkpoints across the capital.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid described the anniversary as a historic moment. He said it “will be written in golden lines in the history of Afghanistan”.
Kabul Hosts Anniversary Celebrations
Hundreds of people gathered near a square beside the former US embassy in Kabul. Fresh flowers were also dropped from military helicopters during a parade.
The parade featured male athletes, as women remain banned from sports in Afghanistan.
Taliban fighters seized Kabul on August 15, 2021. Their rapid offensive toppled the Afghan government after the withdrawal of US-led forces.
For some Afghans, the anniversary represents a period of greater security.
Asif Khan Barakzai, a 21-year-old from Kabul, said, “With the arrival of the Islamic Emirate, I feel peace, comfort and calmness in Afghanistan”.
Authorities also displayed vehicles left behind by foreign forces. Some Humvees were driven through Kabul in convoys during the anniversary events.
Celebrations also took place in other major cities. These included Kandahar, the home of the Taliban’s supreme leader, and Herat in western Afghanistan.
In Herat, stunt performers entertained crowds in the streets.
Taliban Seeks Foreign Investment
Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have established ties with several countries since returning to power. However, Russia remains the only country to formally recognise the Taliban government.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal called on countries to invest in Afghanistan. He invited them to “come here, invest, and make extensive use of the available economic opportunities” in the country.
Afghanistan continues to face major economic challenges. The country’s GDP per capita has declined amid the arrival of more than six million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan over three years.
However, the World Bank has estimated real economic growth at 4.8 percent.
Relations With Pakistan Face Major Strain
Afghanistan’s relationship with neighbouring Pakistan has deteriorated sharply.
The two countries went to war this year, further worsening an already difficult humanitarian situation. At the same time, Afghanistan has faced significant reductions in international aid.
Several countries have limited their engagement with the Taliban authorities. They have called for changes before expanding relations with the government.
The United Nations has also raised concerns about conditions facing Afghans. It has warned that people continue to suffer “very real harm”.
Rights Groups Criticise Growing Restrictions
Human rights concerns remain a major point of criticism against the Taliban government.
Fiona Frazer, the human rights director for the UN mission in Afghanistan, said Afghans had experienced the “consolidation of suffocating restrictions that intrude on almost every aspect of their daily lives, and their human rights”.
Press freedom has also faced growing pressure. The Committee to Protect Journalists criticised what it described as the authorities’ “brutal repression of the press”.
The group said media workers have been “surveilled, detained, beaten, censored, or driven into exile”.
Women Face Severe Restrictions
Women and girls have faced some of the most significant restrictions under Taliban rule.
Women remain barred from public places such as parks. They are also excluded from most jobs under current Taliban measures.
Girls beyond the age of 12 are also prohibited from continuing their education.
For many Afghan women, therefore, the fifth anniversary carries a very different meaning from the celebrations seen in Kabul.
One Kabul woman recalled the loss of her husband, who she said was killed by Taliban insurgents before they came to power.
The 35-year-old woman said she experienced severe grief as the anniversary approached.
“Whenever this month and this time of year arrives, a very intense grief overcomes me,” she said.
She added, “I will remain in mourning as long as they are in power.”
The fifth anniversary therefore presented sharply contrasting realities across Afghanistan. Supporters celebrated the Taliban’s return to power, while critics continued to highlight restrictions and humanitarian concerns.
