Taliban Marks Five Years in Power as Crisis Deepens

The Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of its return to power in Afghanistan on Saturday with a military parade in front of the former US embassy in Kabul. Leaders of the movement presented the anniversary as a victory over Western domination, but they are also facing a deepening humanitarian crisis and security challenges.

International organizations are drawing particular attention to the widespread restrictions on women's rights. According to UNESCO, 2.5 million Afghan girls and women are unable to attend secondary and higher education institutions.

At the same time, the country's humanitarian needs have reached record levels, according to the International Rescue Committee, driven by droughts, the aftermath of earthquakes and the return of Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan.

The Taliban government remains almost entirely unrecognized internationally, with only Russia having formally recognized it. Nevertheless, Kabul is seeking to gradually expand its diplomatic and economic relations with other countries. The security situation is further complicated by Islamic State attacks on Taliban officials.

(Reuters, mja)