Afghans mark five years of Taliban rule

Kabul marked five years since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, with public ceremonies largely excluding women. The anniversary highlights the country's continued diplomatic isolation, escalating humanitarian crisis, and the systematic exclusion of women from public life.

Since the Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021, Afghanistan has grappled with severe economic challenges and a deteriorating humanitarian situation. International aid organizations have repeatedly warned of widespread hunger and poverty, exacerbated by the country's isolation from the global community.

The Taliban's policies have increasingly restricted women's rights, limiting their access to education, employment, and public spaces. This exclusion has drawn widespread international condemnation and further complicated diplomatic relations, leaving Afghanistan in a precarious position both domestically and internationally.