A show of force by the Taliban in the second year of their rule

In Afghanistan, the Taliban, who entered the capital Kabul on August 15, 2021 and dominated the country, celebrated their second year of rule.

In cities across the country, notably Kabul, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar, Taliban forces organized a tour of the city with weapons and military vehicles and saluted the public. Taliban members frequently chanted pro-Taliban and anti-US slogans.

A military parade was held in Kandahar province, which is in southern Afghanistan and has symbolic significance for the Taliban. In Kabul, Taliban convoys conducted a city tour from Mesut Junction in front of the former US embassy and toured the entire capital.

Due to the possibility of an ISIL threat to the celebrations, the Taliban forces took extensive security measures for the celebrations.

On the other hand, some opposition women from Afghanistan and outside Afghanistan protested in groups against the Taliban and demanded that the restrictions imposed on them be lifted.

Clashes between the parties escalated in the summer of 2021 after ongoing negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha, the Qatari capital, ended in failure. In parallel, the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces accelerated and the Taliban entered the capital Kabul on 15 August.

Soon after, after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country, the Taliban dominated Afghanistan. (AA)