KABUL: The Taliban marked five years in power on Saturday, seeking to portray their government as in control even as aid and rights groups warned of escalating crises.

Outside the former US embassy in Kabul, armoured Taliban vehicles took part in a parade, displaying flags and celebrating what the government described as “victory day” from Western domination.

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, said in a video address their return to power was the result of “morale, courage” and “divine assistance”. But he also made a rare acknowledgement of “issues and problems that may still exist”.

Rights groups decry sweeping curbs on women, girls

The UN and international organisations say the Taliban have struggled to address natural and humanitarian crises over the past five years, in part because Afghan women are under severe restrictions.

Since taking power in 2021 amid the US withdrawal, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions, barring 2.5 million women and girls from secondary schools and universities, according to Unesco.

Half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month, according to UN Women.

The Taliban have also faced a string of assassinations. In late July, the information director in Badakhshan province was killed in an attack claimed by the militant Islamic State group. The mayor of the province’s capital also died in an attack on Thursday.

Five years on, their government remains internationally unrecognised, with Russia the only country to formally recognise it. Relations with Pakistan are tense, as Islamabad accuses Kabul of supporting terrorists.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026