Taliban marks five years in power in Afghanistan with Kabul ceremony
Taliban leaders held a ceremony in Kabul to mark five years since regaining power in Afghanistan, with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in attendance.
Kabul witnessed a formal ceremony on Saturday as Taliban leaders marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan. The event, held in the capital, featured speeches from senior officials, including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who was seen seated among other attendees before addressing the gathering.
The anniversary commemorates August 15, 2021, when the Taliban swept back into control following a rapid offensive launched as the United States and NATO forces completed their withdrawal after two decades of military presence. That period was marked by chaotic scenes at Kabul's airport, where thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country.
Ahead of the takeover, Taliban representatives had indicated that women would be allowed access to education, employment, and public participation, though within the framework of their interpretation of Islamic principles. However, shortly after assuming power, the administration imposed an indefinite ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade. A few months later, higher education for women was also suspended until further notice.
Restrictions have since extended to other areas of public life. Women have been barred from entering gyms, parks, and public baths, from participating in sports, and from traveling long distances without a male guardian, or mahram.
The ceremony in Kabul included performances by children and was attended by security personnel, reflecting the formal nature of the occasion as the regime consolidates its fifth year in control.