Taliban supporters mark five years in power in Kabul

Taliban government supporters rallied in central Kabul on Saturday to celebrate five years in power, gathering near the former United States embassy with music, dancing, selfies and white Taliban flags.

Hundreds of Afghans joined the celebrations, with people packed into cars and pick-up trucks. The crowd was described as almost entirely men and children, and some people carried rifles while moving among the gathering.

The authorities declared Saturday a national holiday. Some shops were closed in Kabul and traffic in the usually congested capital had eased.

Mohammad Daud Rahmani, a 28-year-old construction business owner from Kandahar, said he was “very hopeful and happy for Afghanistan's future” and called for more countries to engage with the Taliban government.

Asif Khan Barakzai, a 21-year-old Kabul resident, thanked the Taliban's supreme leader and security forces for what he called a “very peaceful atmosphere”.

The Taliban authorities have faced criticism over their strict interpretation of Islamic law, including tight restrictions on women and girls. During the Kabul celebrations, a woman wearing a green body-cloaking chador and black headscarf was stopped from posing for pictures with the flag and left the area.