Taliban govt to mark 5 years of ruling Afghanistan

Afghanistan marks five years of Taliban rule on Saturday, officials touting security and economic opportunities, while critics condemn the regime's growing restrictions. Afghans adorned vehicles and storefronts with Taliban flags ahead of the anniversary, with murals declaring "Independence is a sign of dignity, pride and identity."

The government plans a cricket match and other sports events, though girls and women remain barred from participation. Taliban supporters anticipate gatherings marking the day insurgents seized Kabul in a swift offensive following the US withdrawal from the country.

University student Pirooz Mirzaie praised the Taliban's "security, infrastructure projects and plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs," acknowledging the youth's primary challenge is the scarcity of employment. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated the government is "laying the foundations of the economy," emphasizing the need for patience amid GDP per capita decline due to over six million Afghans arriving from Iran and Pakistan in three years. The World Bank estimated real growth of 4.8%.

While Taliban officials have established diplomatic ties with several countries, including European nations, the regime remains unrecognized by most international bodies, with Russia being the sole exception. Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have deteriorated, leading to war this year, exacerbating Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis exacerbated by declining international aid.

The UN has highlighted the "consolidation of suffocating restrictions" impacting nearly every facet of life and human rights. Fiona Frazer, the UN's human rights director for Afghanistan, stated people are enduring "the harsh realities of a regime that imposes suffocating restrictions on almost every aspect of their daily lives."

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the Taliban's "brutal repression of the press," detailing instances of surveilling, detaining, beating, censoring, or exiling media personnel. Women face particularly harsh restrictions, barred from public spaces, most jobs, and education beyond age 12. A 23-year-old woman expressed feeling "a profound sense of suffocation," describing the Taliban's rule as akin to living a "500-year-old woman" unable to escape its oppressive grip.