Afghanistan: when the Taliban celebrate their three years of reign

Jane Anderson
Jane Anderson
Afghanistan: when the Taliban are celebrated in three years of the region

3 years ago, on August 15, 2021, the Taliban took Kabul. Since then, they have applied Sharia law in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, the government is organizing a day of celebrations with a military parade in the immense Bagram base and a popular rally in the capital.

“Staying the course of Islamist law”this is the promise that the Taliban in Afghanistan made to themselves. It has now been 3 years since the country descended into unchallenged reign. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban took Kabul, leading to the flight of the government and the debacle of the Western coalition led by the United States which had driven them from power 20 years earlier.

To celebrate this date, a military parade on the Bagram base and a popular rally in Kabul are on the program. An event which also allows us to recall all the measures put in place by the Taliban since their new reign.

The day Afghanistan changed

Sunday August 15 2021 marked the 45 million inhabitants of Afghanistan. The withdrawal of American troops, decided by Joe Biden, sealed the future of the country. The Afghan capital falls into the hands of the Taliban in a few hours. A victory which marks their return to power, almost 20 years after losing him.

When they first took power in 1996, residents saw hope in them. The latter were tired of the excesses of the mujahideen and the internal struggles after the expulsion of the Soviets. Today, the situation is completely different. If at the time they eradicated corruption, fought against anarchy and secured roads and areas under their control, which stimulated trade, the application of their extremely strict ideology pushes the Afghan population into terror.

The year 2001 marks the end of the first reign of the Taliban. But 20 years later, on September 11, 2021, the United States announced the withdrawal of its troops. Kabul is then given to the Taliban on a silver platter. Islamic law, called shariathen comes into force again in Afghanistan.

Kabul was the last major city in Afghanistan to fall under a Taliban offensive. The latter began direct talks with the United States in 2018, and last year the two sides reached a peace agreement in Doha that committed the United States to withdraw and the Taliban not to attack the forces American.

The installation of terror

While they also agreed not to allow al-Qaeda or other militants to operate in areas they control and to continue internal peace talks, the Taliban continued to attack Afghan security forces and civilians. The Doha peace talks are now at a standstill. This led to numerous human losses. Since then, human rights have suffered a sharp decline in the country. By applying Sharia law,Afghans must follow rules who dictate to Muslims what they have the right to do or not. It determines their way of eating, dressing, and behaving with others.

Rules which did not fail to provoke a reaction on the international scene, particularly concerning women’s rights. The latter are prohibited from studying and must wear a burqa, a veil that completely covers their body. By opposing anything that they believe turns people away from religion, the Taliban have notably blocked access to certain social networks and video games. Those who disobey them end up in prison and sometimes dead. Since they came to power, a climate of terror has reigned in Afghanistan.

Military parade and Taliban propaganda

“Victory Day is a proud day for the Afghan people,” Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund said on the eve of celebrations in the country. Kabul flaunts thousands of the country’s white and black flags. For several days, television has increased the number of programs around this anniversary. We can see a special logo and long interviews with Taliban ministers. On a banner of the RTA channel, we could read: “Pride (of Afghans) comes from the blood shed by thousands of martyrs”. Of the athlete performances and poetry readings will also be on the program in the Kabuli streets. The Afghans will witness propaganda hidden under a festive tone.

From 8 a.m. (4:30 a.m. GMT), a military parade is held in the huge Bagram base, around fifty kilometers north of Kabul, according to the program communicated by the authorities. The place is highly symbolic: this air base had been the heart of American operations against Taliban insurgents. They had reconquered it the very day of the fall of Kabul. This parade is an opportunity for security forces to display the numerous military equipment recovered following the departure of Western forces.

A popular rally was held mid-morning in the capital. Thousands of Afghans were invited to the capital from half a dozen central provinces. But the whole country must celebrate Victory Day.

But behind this celebration, the Taliban administration cannot hide the fact that Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Indeed, the country is experiencing anemic growth, massive unemployment and a serious humanitarian crisis. If the country is establishing relations with China and Russia and has opened a dialogue with the West by participating in June, for the first time, in the Doha discussions, the Taliban government is still not recognized by any country because of its repressive measures against women.

Also read: Why does the EU not recognize the results of the presidential election in Venezuela?