The Taliban marked five years since regaining control of Afghanistan following the 2021 US withdrawal, holding celebrations across the country. Thousands of Afghans gathered in Kabul on Saturday with flag-draped cars, while athletes paraded outside the former US embassy, though only men participated due to restrictions on women's sports.
Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal invited countries to "invest, and make extensive use of the available economic opportunities" in Afghanistan. However, the administration remains largely isolated internationally, with only Russia having formally recognized its government.
The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said in a video message that the country faced a deep human rights crisis. UNESCO estimated that 2.4 million girls have been excluded from secondary education, while the UN World Food Program reported that child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan's provinces.
Almost immediately after taking power, the Taliban banned girls' education beyond the sixth grade and later prohibited higher education for women entirely. Women now face severe restrictions on public movement, work, sports participation, and travel without a male relative.
France's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed solidarity with Afghan citizens and said there would be no normalization of Taliban rule without respect for human rights and inclusive governance. The European Union stated it does not recognize the Taliban administration but maintains operational contact, citing concerns including women's and girls' rights.
