Afghanistan marks five years of Taliban rule with security gains and economic worries

As Afghanistan marks the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power, residents in Kabul are expressing a mix of relief over improved security and frustration over persistent economic hardship and restrictions on education.

Mohammad Qasim, a 30-year-old Kabul resident, said the past five years have been safe, but he urged the government to focus on creating job opportunities for the youth. "Our wish and hope from the government is to create job opportunities for the youth," he said, adding that young people should be encouraged to pursue education.

The Taliban swept back into control on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops after two decades of war. The group initially promised to protect women's rights but soon banned girls from secondary school and women from higher education, citing its interpretation of Islamic law. Restrictions on women's employment and travel without a male guardian followed.

The United Nations has acknowledged that the country has become more stable but warns that lasting peace is impossible without lifting restrictions on women and girls. UNAMA said in a statement that a reduction in conflict has brought benefits, but the restrictions impede recovery and reintegration with the international community. U.N. Women described the situation as the world's most severe women's rights crisis, with no parallel in the modern world.

Fazila Soroush, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and women's rights advocate, said the government has demonstrated its worth through actions but called for a clear and practical decision on reopening schools and universities.

In Kabul, preparations for the anniversary were underway, with vendors selling Taliban flags and painters writing slogans in praise of Islamic law on walls. Taliban deputy minister Molvi Hayatullah Mahajar Farahi highlighted achievements in security, currency stability, and infrastructure, but did not directly address the issue of girls' education. He rejected a U.N. report on terrorist networks as "enemy propaganda" and insisted the government is engaged with around 40 countries, though it is only formally recognized by Russia.

UNESCO reported that an estimated 2.4 million girls are now excluded from secondary education, a 200,000 increase from last year, reversing two decades of progress. The agency also noted that 53% of primary school-aged children are out of school, and many schools lack basic infrastructure. The U.N. World Food Program warned that child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan's provinces.

Dost Mohammad Khan, a 38-year-old Kabul resident, expressed support for the administration, citing stability, but stressed the need for trained professionals like doctors and engineers. He also urged the authorities to allow women to attend school under a sharia dress code.