KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban authorities marked the third anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan, celebrating it as a “victory day” over two decades of “Western occupation.”
On Wednesday, August 14, the Taliban marked the day with a military parade at Bagram Airfield, once the largest U.S. military base in the region, showcasing military equipment, including helicopters, Humvees, and tanks left behind by U.S. and NATO-led forces after decades of war.
The Taliban seized the capital city of Kabul on August 15, 2021, after the U.S. and NATO began their withdrawal from the country, resulting in the rapid collapse of the republic government.
As reported by the Taliban Media and Information Center (GMIC), during the event, Taliban leaders called for increased international engagement, claiming that the regime has established favorable conditions for building positive relations with all countries.
Speaking at the event, Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir said that their diplomatic relations with other countries are expanding, noting that foreign diplomats are visiting Afghanistan and the regime maintains nearly 40 diplomatic missions abroad.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban Interior Minister and leader of the Haqqani Network, also called for global engagement, urging the world to use this opportunity to pursue a path of cooperation with Afghanistan.
Despite the Taliban’s repeated calls for increased international engagement since their return to power, the regime has remained largely isolated over the past three years.
While some regional countries have maintained relations with the Taliban, no country has officially recognized the regime due to severe human rights violations, particularly against women and girls, ties with terrorist groups, and the lack of inclusivity in the government structure.
None of the Taliban authorities talked about the challenges facing the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls who have recently been erased from public life.
Over the past three years of Taliban rule, Afghanistan has become one of the most challenging countries for women and girls. The regime has imposed severe restrictions on their movements and denied them access to education, employment, social mobility, and other fundamental freedoms.
Despite significant calls and pressure from much of the world, including Islamic countries and organizations, for the Taliban to respect the fundamental rights of women and girls, the regime insists that its policies and practices are rooted in Islamic Sharia law and Afghan traditions.
Furthermore, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation has significantly worsened, making it one of the world’s most critical crises. The UN reports that 23.7 million people, more than half of the population, urgently need humanitarian assistance this year.
