Amid International Aid Cuts And Declining GDP Per Capita
OpenLife News reports that the Taliban government celebrated five years in power in Afghanistan on Saturday with flag-waving rallies, military convoys and patriotic music in Kabul, even as critics condemned deepening restrictions and a worsening economy.
Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the day “will be written in golden lines in the history of Afghanistan.”
Kabul Celebrations And Military Display
Hundreds of Afghans gathered near the former US embassy, riding in pickup trucks, rickshaws and motorbikes decorated with white Taliban flags. Men, boys and young girls waved flags, took selfies and posed for pictures.
New murals around the city read: “Independence is a sign of dignity, pride and identity.”
Men wearing white and red headbands joined the crowd as religious and patriotic songs played, marking five years since Taliban fighters entered Kabul unopposed on August 15, 2021.
Dozens of vehicles, including Humvees abandoned by foreign forces, drove through the capital. Military helicopters flew overhead while security forces with AK-47 rifles manned checkpoints that increased across the city.
The authorities also announced a cricket match and other sports events, which <strong>girls and women are banned from attending.
From Republic To Taliban Rule
Before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan was the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, a Western-backed democracy led by President Ashraf Ghani. The government collapsed during the US and NATO withdrawal, and Ghani fled the country.
Economic Strain And Aid Cuts
While Taliban officials tout progress, the economy is under pressure. GDP per capita is in decline, worsened by the return of more than 6 million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan in three years. The World Bank estimates real growth at 4.8 percent.
Mujahid said the government is laying “the foundations of the economy” and asked Afghans to be patient.
University student Pirooz Mirzaie, 20, said there is more security and infrastructure projects, but “The biggest challenge for young people is that there aren’t many jobs.”
Suffocating Restrictions’ Draw UN Criticism
Although the Taliban have built ties with several countries, including in Europe, their government is still only recognised by Russia. Relations with Pakistan have collapsed after both countries went to war this year, further deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis amid international aid cuts.
The United Nations said Afghans are suffering “very real harm.”
Fiona Fraze, human rights director for UNAMA, told AFP people have endured “the consolidation of suffocating restrictions that intrude on almost every aspect of their daily lives, and their human rights”.
The Committee to Protect Journalists also accused the authorities of “brutal repression of the press,” with media workers surveilled, detained, beaten or forced into exile.
Impact On Women
Women have borne the brunt of Taliban policies. They are banned from most public places including parks and from most jobs. Education for girls beyond age 12 is outlawed.
A 23-year-old woman who spoke to AFP anonymously for security reasons said:
“The five years have been so gruelling that I feel like a 500-year-old woman, one who cannot die. I feel a profound sense of suffocation.”
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