The Taliban on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of their return to power at a former US air base in Afghanistan, but there was no mention of the country's difficulties or promises to help the struggling population.
Under a blue sky and a blazing sun at Bagram Air Force Base — once the center of the U.S. war to topple the Taliban and hunt down the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — Taliban cabinet members hailed achievements such as strengthening Islamic law and establishing a military system that provides “peace and security.”
TALIBAN PUBLICLY WHIP 63 PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN, IN AFGHANISTAN, PROVOKING UN CONDEMNATION
The speeches were aimed at an international audience, urging the diaspora to return and the West to interact and cooperate with the country's rulers. No country recognises the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Emirate has eliminated internal differences and expanded the scope of unity and cooperation in the country,” said Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir, using the Taliban term to describe his government. “No one will be allowed to interfere in internal affairs and Afghan soil will not be used against any country.”
None of the four speakers spoke about the challenges Afghans face in everyday life.
Women were barred from the event, including journalists from The Associated Press, Agence French-Presse and Reuters. The Taliban gave no reason for this.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, center, inspects honor guards during a military parade to mark the third anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan, at Bagram air base in Parwan province of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)
Decades of conflict and instability have left millions of Afghans on the brink of famine and starvation. Unemployment is high.
The Bagram parade was the Taliban's grandest and most defiant since they regained control of the country in August 2021.
Among the 10,000-strong crowd were senior Taliban officials, including acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob and acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was not present at the parade.
The Taliban said foreign diplomats also attended, but did not specify who.
Aid agencies warn that humanitarian efforts in the country are underfunded as economic collapse and climate change destroy livelihoods.
They say Afghans, especially women and girls, will suffer without greater diplomatic engagement with the Taliban.
The Bagram parade was also an opportunity to display some of the military equipment abandoned by U.S.- and NATO-led forces after decades of war, including helicopters, Humvees and tanks.
Uniformed soldiers marched with light and heavy machine guns, and a formation of motorcycles carried the Taliban flag.
Pickup trucks packed with men of all ages drove through the streets of Kabul to celebrate the seizure of power. Some men posed for photos with rifles.
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At a parade in the southern province of Helmand, men held yellow canisters to represent the type of explosives used in roadside bombings during the war.
The Taliban declared Wednesday a national holiday. As in previous years, women did not participate in the anniversary celebrations.
