Taliban mark five years in power

Taliban mark five years in power

KABUL: The Taliban on Saturday marked five years since returning to power in Afghanistan, staging a military parade in Kabul and presenting their rule as a period of stability despite mounting humanitarian and human rights concerns.

Armoured Taliban vehicles moved past the former US embassy in Kabul as officials raised flags and banners for what the government called “victory day” over Western domination.

Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said in a video message that the Taliban’s return resulted from “morale, courage” and “divine assistance.” He also acknowledged that the country still faces unresolved issues and problems.

The United Nations and international aid organisations have warned that Afghanistan continues to struggle with severe humanitarian and natural crises. They have also criticised the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls.

According to UNESCO, the Taliban have kept around 2.5 million girls and women out of secondary schools and universities since 2021 and imposed restrictions on their movement. UN Women reported this week that half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month.

The Taliban maintain that they uphold women’s rights under Islamic Sharia law.

The group has also faced security challenges, including a series of attacks on officials in northeastern Afghanistan. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing of the Taliban’s information director in Badakhshan in late July. The mayor of the provincial capital was also killed in an attack on Thursday, according to local media.

The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US and allied forces withdrew from Afghanistan. The group initially promised a more moderate form of government than during its previous rule in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, rights groups say its policies have instead imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls.

Five years after returning to power, the Taliban government still lacks broad international recognition. Russia remains the only country to have formally recognised it.

Meanwhile, relations with Pakistan have deteriorated. Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing Pakistani militants to operate from Afghan territory, adding further pressure to an already strained relationship.