Shafaqna English– As the Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of their assumption of power on Saturday(15 Aug 2026), they were keen to present themselves as a government in full control of the country’s security and administrative machinery.
However, the celebratory tone was sharply undercut by an array of international and local watchdog groups, who seized the moment to reiterate their grave concerns about the worsening economic collapse, the shrinking space for dissent, and the systematic marginalization of half the population.
In a highly symbolic location — directly in front of the former United States embassy in the capital city of Kabul — a procession of Taliban military vehicles, including heavily armoured units, rolled through the streets in a carefully orchestrated parade.
The convoy proudly flew the group’s distinctive white flags and carried large banners, all part of a celebration that the ruling administration officially dubbed “Victory Day,” commemorating what it frames as the triumphant expulsion of Western influence from Afghan soil.
Source: Reuters