Supporters of the Taliban filled central Kabul this Saturday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the group’s return to power. Convoys of vehicles decorated with white banners moved through the capital while crowds chanted religious slogans. The event marked the end of the previous Western-backed government and five years of Taliban administration.
During the gathering, officials claimed credit for establishing security and national sovereignty across the country. Leadership figures argued that their governance has ended the state of large-scale conflict that defined previous decades. They used the occasion to call for formal international recognition and an end to sanctions that have kept billions in state reserves frozen abroad.
While the celebration presented a vision of victory, the economic reality remains difficult for many residents. Banking restrictions and the absence of foreign investment have left the economy fragile. Humanitarian agencies warn that malnutrition remains high, and millions of citizens rely on aid to meet basic food needs.
Education and social restrictions also define the current era. Reports indicate that 2.4 million girls remain excluded from secondary schools. Many residents in the capital avoided the festivities, citing unemployment and the high cost of living as their primary concerns. The gap between official narratives and the daily experience of the population persists five years into this period of governance.