Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities celebrated the fourth anniversary of their August 15, 2021 takeover on Friday, buoyed by Russia’s formal recognition of their government being the first such endorsement from a foreign power.
The milestone was marked with parades in several cities, including Kabul, where white-and-black Taliban flags adorned the streets and helicopters prepared to drop flowers.
The festivities included gatherings near the shuttered U.S. embassy and fireworks displays, though the grand military parade held last year at Bagram airbase was notably absent without explanation.
Despite the celebrations, the Taliban remains internationally isolated due to its hardline interpretation of Islamic law, especially severe restrictions on women, who are banned from most education, employment, and public spaces without a male guardian.
In July, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders over alleged crimes against humanity related to gender persecution.
Kabul maintains close, though unofficial, ties with several countries including China, the UAE, and Central Asian states and has hosted discussions with Western officials.
However, U.N. human rights experts urged the global community not to normalise relations, condemning the Taliban’s “institutionalised system of gender oppression” and suppression of dissent.
Economic fragility, aid cuts, and the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring states continue to pose significant challenges, even as the Taliban consolidates its grip on power.
