Taliban marks fifth anniversary of return to power in Kabul
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The Taliban marked five years since its return to power in Kabul after nearly 20 years of international military presence in Afghanistan. UNESCO says about 2.5 million Afghan girls are barred from secondary school and university, and more than two dozen UN experts urge governments not to normalize ties without measurable human rights progress.
Key Facts
- The Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of its return to power in Kabul after nearly 20 years of international military presence in Afghanistan.
- UNESCO says around 2.5 million Afghan girls are deprived of access to secondary school and university.
- UN Women reports that about half of Afghan women now leave home only once or twice a month.
- Russia is the only country to officially recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
- More than two dozen independent UN experts urged governments to tie any normalization with the Taliban to proven, measurable, independently verified progress on human rights.
Five Years of Taliban Rule
The Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of its entry into Kabul after nearly 20 years of international military presence in Afghanistan. Since returning to power in 2021, the movement has deprived many Afghans of basic rights. The measures have hit women hardest, with bans on unaccompanied public movement, education, sports, and most employment.
Women's Rights Restrictions
UNESCO says around 2.5 million Afghan girls are deprived of access to secondary school and university. UN Women reports that about half of Afghan women now leave home only once or twice a month. The Taliban says this policy matches its interpretation of sharia law.
International Recognition and Pressure
The Taliban has established unofficial contacts with several Asian and Middle Eastern states, while Russia remains the only country to officially recognize it as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. A recent technical meeting of EU officials with Taliban representatives in Brussels discussed the return of Afghan migrants. More than two dozen independent UN experts called on governments not to rush normalization and to link any steps to proven, measurable, independently verified progress on human rights, especially for women and girls.
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Taliban marks fifth anniversary of return to power in Kabul
