Taliban marks five years in power with military parades, celebrations

The Taliban government on Saturday marked five years in power in Afghanistan with military parades, flag-waving ceremonies and public celebrations in Kabul, as critics condemned what they described as increasingly severe restrictions on daily life.

The anniversary coincided with the fifth year since Taliban fighters entered Kabul on August 15, 2021, following a rapid offensive that toppled the US-backed government after the withdrawal of American and allied forces.

Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid described the anniversary as a historic occasion, saying it “will be written in golden lines in the history of Afghanistan”.

Hundreds of people gathered around a square near the former US embassy in Kabul, with men, boys and some young girls waving white Taliban flags and taking photographs.

Flag-decorated motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles moved through the streets, while security personnel armed with AK-47 rifles maintained a presence around the celebrations. Military helicopters also flew over the capital.

Some military vehicles left behind by foreign forces, including Humvees, were displayed in convoys through Kabul, where authorities also increased checkpoints.

The Taliban authorities planned a cricket match and other sporting events as part of the anniversary celebrations, although women and girls are barred from attending such events.

A 20-year-old university student, Pirooz Mirzaie, said the Taliban administration had improved security and infrastructure while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.

“The biggest challenge for young people is that there aren’t many jobs,” he told AFP.

Mujahid said the government was laying the “foundations of the economy”, urging Afghans to remain patient as the authorities pursue economic development.

Afghanistan’s economy, however, continues to face significant challenges. GDP per capita has declined amid the return of more than six million Afghans from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan over the past three years, although the World Bank has estimated real economic growth at 4.8 per cent.

Restrictions on women, media

While the Taliban has strengthened diplomatic ties with several countries, its government remains formally recognised only by Russia.

Relations with neighbouring Pakistan have also deteriorated sharply, with the two countries engaging in armed conflict this year, further worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation amid reductions in international aid.

The United Nations has warned of serious human rights concerns under Taliban rule, with UNAMA human rights director Fiona Frazer describing the past five years as a period of “consolidation of suffocating restrictions that intrude on almost every aspect of their daily lives, and their human rights”.

Women have borne the brunt of many of the restrictions. They are barred from most jobs and public spaces, including parks, while girls are prohibited from continuing formal education beyond the age of 12.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has also criticised what it described as the Taliban’s “brutal repression of the press”, alleging that media workers have faced surveillance, detention, beatings, censorship and forced exile.

A 23-year-old Afghan woman, who spoke anonymously because of security concerns, described the past five years as deeply difficult.

“The five years have been so gruelling that I feel like a 500-year-old woman, one who cannot die,” she said.

The anniversary celebrations therefore presented a stark contrast between the Taliban’s portrayal of five years of rule as a period of stability and independence and criticism from human rights organisations over restrictions on women, media freedom, employment and other aspects of public life.