By Sandra Kenneth
The Taliban government marked five years since its return to power in Afghanistan on Saturday, filling the streets of Kabul with military convoys, flying flags, and hosting public celebrations, even as international observers and citizens decried escalating social and economic restrictions.
Dozens of flag-decorated motorbikes, rickshaws, and military vehicles—including foreign Humvees left behind during the 2021 withdrawal—paraded near the former U.S. embassy. Overhead, military helicopters flew past as crowds gathered under newly painted murals reading, “Independence is a sign of dignity, pride and identity.” Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid hailed the anniversary, stating the date “will be written in golden lines in the history of Afghanistan.”
While government officials pointed to improved security, infrastructure initiatives, and economic stabilization efforts—noting World Bank estimates of 4.8 percent real growth—the nation continues to face severe challenges. Declining GDP per capita, mass returns of over six million Afghans from neighboring states, and severe international aid cuts have kept unemployment high and exacerbated a humanitarian crisis.
Furthermore, human rights groups and international bodies emphasized the mounting toll of state policy on daily life. Fiona Frazer, Human Rights Director for the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), noted that citizens face a “consolidation of suffocating restrictions” affecting nearly all personal freedoms. Women and girls remain the most impacted, facing prohibitions from public parks, most workplaces, and secondary or higher education beyond age 12.
Press freedom watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned the ongoing repression of media, pointing to systemic surveillance, detentions, and censorship of journalists. Despite sporadic diplomatic outreach to various nations, Russia remains the only government to extend official recognition to the Taliban administration.
