Suffocating restrictions and a humanitarian crisis: Taliban marks five years in power in Afghanistan

The Taliban government marks its fifth anniversary of ruling Afghanistan on Saturday, touting freedom and security while critics condemn the growing restrictions. Afghans adorned their rickshaws and motorbikes with flags, driving through the city, where murals proclaim: "Independence is a sign of dignity, pride and identity." The authorities plan to host a cricket match and other sports events, though girls and women remain banned from attending.

Supporters are anticipated to gather, marking the exact five-year anniversary since the Taliban insurgents entered Kabul. The city experienced an influx of vehicles, including abandoned foreign forces' Humvees, as checkpoints increased.

University student Pirooz Mirzaie, 20, asserts that the government has introduced security, infrastructure projects, and entrepreneurial opportunities. However, the primary challenge lies in the scarcity of jobs among young people. Zabihullah Mujahid, the government's chief spokesman, states that the authorities are laying the economic foundation, suggesting patience is required.

Despite a declining GDP per capita due to the influx of over six million Afghans from neighboring Iran and Pakistan over three years, the World Bank reported a 4.8% real growth rate.

Though the Taliban has established ties with various countries, including Europe, their government is only recognized by Russia. Relations with neighboring Pakistan have deteriorated, leading to war and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis as people were already struggling with international aid cuts. Countries are hesitant to maintain relations with the Taliban authorities until changes occur in Afghanistan, where the UN reports that people are enduring a "consolidation of suffocating restrictions that intrude on almost every aspect of their daily lives, and their human rights."

Fiona Frazer, the UNAMA's human rights director, expresses concern over the severe impact on human rights. The Committee to Protect Journalists has criticized the Taliban's "brutal repression of the press," involving surveillance, detainment, beating, censorship, or forcing journalists into exile. Women have faced severe repercussions, being prohibited from public areas, including parks, and barred from most jobs, while education for girls beyond age 12 is prohibited.

A 23-year-old woman, speaking anonymously for security reasons, admits to feeling a profound sense of suffocation, comparing herself to a 500-year-old woman who cannot die.