Photos: Patriotic music and flags mark Taliban rule anniversary in Kabul

What the report says

Thousands of Taliban supporters gathered in central Kabul on Saturday as authorities marked five years since the group returned to power in Afghanistan. According to Al Jazeera’s photo report, convoys of cars and pickup trucks carrying Taliban flags and banners moved through the city toward a main event near government ministry buildings, where heavily armed fighters secured the area and senior officials spoke to the crowd.

The celebrations featured patriotic music, chanting, dancing and staged displays across Kabul and other cities. The Taliban leadership used the anniversary to highlight what it describes as restored security and sovereignty after the collapse of the Western-backed republic in August 2021 and the withdrawal of foreign troops. Officials also repeated calls for international recognition, arguing that engagement, rather than isolation, would help stabilise the country.

The report also notes the sharp divide over the Taliban’s rule. While supporters praised lower crime and open roads, many residents stayed away, citing unemployment, rising prices and reduced freedoms. The article says Afghanistan’s economy remains under strain, with frozen state reserves, banking restrictions and heavy reliance on aid.

Al Jazeera also referenced broader humanitarian concerns, including the exclusion of millions of girls from secondary education and worsening child malnutrition in parts of the country. Together, the scenes in Kabul reflected both the Taliban’s effort to project confidence and the unresolved political and social challenges facing Afghanistan five years into its rule.