Economy

Taliban celebrates five years of rule in Afghanistan since US withdrawal

TheJournal.ie August 15, 2026

Taliban celebrates five years of rule in Afghanistan since US withdrawal Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to

you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Close Best of the Box Irish News FactCheck

Voices Investigates Gaeilge Sign In Sign out sections Voices FactCheck Investigates Gaeilge Quizzes Money Diaries

Explainers The Journal TV topics Irish News Politics World News Climate Crisis Housing Cost of Living Road Safety Courts

Ukraine Gaza Newsletters FactCheck Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Magazines Daft.ie

Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment Domino's Best of the Box Podcasts The Explainer A deep dive into

one big news story The 42FM Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture Sign in to have your say Or create

a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories A man offers Taliban flags for sale ahead of

celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the start of Taliban rule, in

Kabul, Afghanistan Alamy Stock Photo Kabul Taliban celebrates five years of rule in Afghanistan since US withdrawal The

Taliban government has formed ties with several countries, including in Europe, but is still only recognised by Russia.

7.53am, 15 Aug 2026 6.6k 61 Share options Copy link Email Facebook X THE TALIBAN GOVERNMENT is celebrating five years of

ruling Afghanistan today, with the authorities hailing their country’s “freedom” and security, while critics decry

tightening restrictions in all areas of daily life. Afghans riding rickshaws and motorbikes decorated with flags were

driving around the city, where new murals declared: “Independence is a sign of dignity, pride and identity”. The

authorities will host a cricket match and other sports events – which girls and women are banned from attending –

while their supporters are expected to gather five years to the day since Taliban insurgents entered the city. They took

the capital unopposed after a lightning offensive that swept across Afghanistan, toppling government forces in the wake

of the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops. Some of the vehicles abandoned by foreign forces, such as Humvees, were

driven in convoy early Saturday through Kabul, where there was an increase in the number of checkpoints. Afghan Foreign

Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, center, sits as Taliban delegates from across the country gather for a meeting opening

celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the US withdrawal Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Beside vendors

selling flags earlier this week, university student Pirooz Mirzaie said the government has brought security,

infrastructure projects and “plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs”. “The biggest challenge for young people

is that there aren’t many jobs,” the 20-year-old told AFP. Zabihullah Mujahid, the government’s chief spokesman,

said this month that the authorities were laying the “foundations of the economy” and that patience was needed. GDP

per capita is in decline, due to more than six million Afghans arriving from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan in three

years, while the World Bank estimated real growth reaching 4.8%. ‘Suffocating restrictions’ Although Taliban

officials have forged ties with multiple countries, including in Europe, their government is still only recognised by

Russia. Advertisement Relations with neighbouring Pakistan have plummeted and the two countries went to war this year,

exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan when people were already hit hard by international aid cuts. Some

countries have opted to limit their relations with the Taliban authorities until there are changes in Afghanistan, where

people are suffering “very real harm” according to the United Nations. Fiona Frazer, the human rights director for

the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told AFP that people have endured the “consolidation of suffocating

restrictions that intrude on almost every aspect of their daily lives, and their human rights”. The Committee to

Protect Journalists criticised the authorities’ “brutal repression of the press” which has seen media workers

“surveilled, detained, beaten, censored, or driven into exile”. Women have been particularly affected by Taliban

government measures, being banned from public places including parks and from most jobs, while education for girls

beyond age 12 is outlawed. A 23-year-old woman said she felt a “profound sense of suffocation”, speaking to AFP on

condition of anonymity for security reasons. “The five years have been so gruelling that I feel like a 500-year-old

woman, one who cannot die.” Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs Helen McEntee said today that Ireland stands with

the people of Afghanistan. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. We will continue to advocate for

their rights, dignity and freedom, and we will not cease our call for the full reversal of the Taliban’s

discriminatory and oppressive policies,” she said in a statement this morning. “Over the past five years, women

and girls in Afghanistan have been subjected to an appalling campaign of discriminatory violence, abuse, and exclusion.

“The Taliban’s restrictions on their access to education, employment, freedom of movement and public life are an

assault on human dignity.” With reporting from David Mac Redmond Author AFP View 61 comments Send Tip or Correction

Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site 600px wide <iframe width="600"

height="460" frameborder="0" style="border:0px;"

src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/taliban-celebrates-five-years-in-power-7131988-Aug2026/?embedpost=7131988&width=600&height=460"

></iframe> 400px wide <iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0"

style="border:0px;"

src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/taliban-celebrates-five-years-in-power-7131988-Aug2026/?embedpost=7131988&width=400&height=460"

></iframe> 300px wide <iframe width="600" height="460" frameborder="0"

style="border:0px;"

src="https://www.thejournal.ie/https://www.thejournal.ie/taliban-celebrates-five-years-in-power-7131988-Aug2026/?embedpost=7131988&width=300&height=460"

></iframe> Email “Taliban celebrates five years of rule in Afghanistan since US withdrawal”. Your

Email Recipient's Email Submit Feedback on “Taliban celebrates five years of rule in Afghanistan since US

withdrawal”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Submit Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting

this comment. Please select your reason for reporting... It contains offensive language, is hateful or incites violence

It contains a libellous/defamatory statement Some other reason... Please give full details of the problem with the

comment... Submit Close 61 Comments This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.

Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please

help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Defamation Damaging the good reputation of

someone, slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender,

or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity,

vulgarity, or slurs. Spam Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Other Please provide additional

information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Cancel Next Submit Done Leave

a commentcancel Name not provided Log out Newly created accounts can only comment using The Journal app. This is to add

an extra layer of security to account creation. Download and sign into the app to continue. Access to the

comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Sign in Post Comment Sign in

to have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Afghanistan Kabul Pakistan Russia Taliban Close News in

60 seconds From The 42Athletics O’Connor takes heptathlon gold for Ireland’s third medal of European Championships

12 hrs ago 20.8k 90 AnalysisButter Wars Why has the company behind Kerrygold ‘gone to war’ over US butter sales? 1

hr ago 2.2k 6 watercooler moment What you need to know about My Brilliant Career on Netflix 2 mins ago 1 Russia Russia

says 600 drones targeted Moscow overnight, wounding three people 7 mins ago 42 1 flores Aid begins arriving for people

hit by Indonesia earthquake who are 'still terrified' 26 mins ago 105 0 Opinionfuture proofing Analysis: The big AI

worry may not be that it betrays us, but that it does what it's told Dr Paul Davis 32 mins ago 113 1 and the winner is?

Who are the judges of the Rose of Tralee, and how do they choose a winner? 1 hr ago 1.4k Prison death Man (40s) arrested

in connection with death of inmate (30s) in Dublin's Wheatfield Prison Updated 18 hrs ago 59.7k Stand clear of the doors

Teenager dragged along platform among Luas incidents prompting calls for anti-drag technology 19 hrs ago 21.0k The

Ireland Podcast Britain's Queen Elizabeth 'abhorred' Ian Paisley and loved hurling, Mary McAleese remembers 17 hrs ago

20.9k 96 From The 42Athletics O’Connor takes heptathlon gold for Ireland’s third medal of European Championships 12

hrs ago 20.8k 90 more from us Sections Voices FactCheck Investigates Gaeilge Quizzes Money Diaries Explainers The

Journal TV Journal Media About us Careers Contact Advertise With Us Gender Pay Gap Report '25 About FactCheck Our

Network The 42 FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Comments

About us Careers Contact Advertise With Us Gender Pay Gap Report '25 Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank

Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Comments Copyright Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The

Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate

within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie,

PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem:

Message: Your Email (optional) Submit Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email

Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online Submit Sign in or createa free account Why are we

asking you to sign in? Find out more here By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and

free account Or sign into an existing account Keep reading with a free account You've used your weekly article

allowance. Sign in or register. It's free, and you'll be back reading in seconds. Sign in to read more articles ... Sign

in or create a free account below This one requires sign in Most articles on The Journal are open to read. A small

number, including this one, are reserved for registered readers. Sign in or create a free account to continue Why are we

asking you to sign in? Find out more here By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and

Source: www.thejournal.ie