- Taliban supporters rallied in central Kabul on Saturday (Aug 15) to celebrate the government's five years in power, dancing to loud patriotic music and taking selfies.
- The celebrations featured a festive atmosphere with military helicopters flying overhead, music playing, and people waving the Taliban flag.
- Concerns are rising over increased global ties with the Taliban as countries engage diplomatically despite the regime's human rights abuses.
- The celebrations included people packed into cars, waving the Taliban flag, and some dressed in military fatigues, while others displayed dummy yellow fuel canisters symbolizing homemade bombs.
- International engagement with the Taliban has increased, with countries like India, Qatar, and China opening channels of communication despite ongoing human rights concerns.
- Human rights advocates express concern that diplomatic contacts with the Taliban could undermine consistent demands for improvements in human rights.
Supporters of the Taliban celebrated five years in power in Kabul on Saturday, with hundreds gathering near the former U.S. embassy, dancing and taking selfies. The atmosphere was festive, with many waving the Taliban's white flag and some carrying weapons.1
Despite the jubilant celebrations, the Taliban's rule has been marked by strict enforcement of Islamic law, particularly affecting women and girls. “We are very hopeful and happy for Afghanistan's future,” said Mohammad Daud Rahmani, a construction business owner from Kandahar, who called for more international engagement with the Taliban government.24567
Asif Khan Barakzai, a 21-year-old Kabul resident, expressed gratitude for the “very peaceful atmosphere” under the Taliban, stating, “We come and convey a message to the world that today, with the arrival of the Islamic Emirate, I feel peace, comfort and calmness in Afghanistan.”
However, concerns are rising over the Taliban's increasing global ties. Countries like India, Qatar, China, and Iran have recently engaged with the regime, while Russia signed a military cooperation agreement last month. The European Union also held talks with Taliban officials, marking a significant diplomatic shift despite ongoing human rights abuses.3
Campaigners warn that these individual contacts could undermine coherent demands for human rights improvements in exchange for diplomatic concessions, raising alarms about the future of Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
“The celebrations were largely confined to a few spots, with a woman in a chador stopped from posing with the flag. Meanwhile, India, Qatar, China, Iran, and several Central Asian states have recently welcomed Taliban officials, and Russia signed a military cooperation agreement last month.”
The Guardian
