Afghanistan’s rulers celebrated what they call the end of foreign occupation, while millions of women and girls remain excluded from education, employment and public life.
KABUL, Afghanistan — August 2026. Taliban authorities marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power with official ceremonies across Afghanistan, presenting their rule as a victory over foreign intervention and decades of internal conflict.
Senior officials gathered at Kabul’s Loya Jirga assembly hall, where they praised the restoration of security, the implementation of their interpretation of Islamic law and the consolidation of the Islamic Emirate.
Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani attributed the Taliban’s return to power to determination and “divine assistance,” although he acknowledged that the country continues to face serious economic, humanitarian and security challenges.
Women were absent from the principal celebration, reflecting the institutional exclusion that has characterized Taliban rule since the movement captured Kabul on August 15, 2021, during the final withdrawal of United States and NATO forces.
United Nations Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett warned that Afghanistan’s human rights crisis continues to deteriorate. His office and other international organizations have documented arbitrary detentions, torture, persecution of minorities and systematic restrictions targeting women and girls.
UNESCO estimates that approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls have been denied access to secondary education since 2021. Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are formally prohibited from attending both secondary school and university.
Women have also been excluded from most employment, political participation, sports, parks and numerous public spaces. Restrictions on their movement, clothing and access to healthcare have further reduced their independence.
Humanitarian organizations warned that drought, earthquakes, reduced international assistance and the forced return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries are intensifying hunger and displacement.
The Taliban used the anniversary to request greater diplomatic and economic engagement. However, most governments continue to withhold formal recognition because of the regime’s human rights record and refusal to establish an inclusive political system.
Russia remains the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban government, although several regional powers maintain diplomatic contacts driven by security, migration and economic interests.
The UN cautioned that normalizing relations without measurable human rights conditions could legitimize institutionalized discrimination and deepen the suffering of millions of Afghans.
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