Taliban Celebrate Five Years of Governance as Afghanistan Faces Humanitarian Crisis and Gender Exclusion

The Taliban marked the five-year anniversary of their return to power in Kabul, celebrating a victory of the Islamic Emirate and the restoration of national sovereignty. While the group has successfully maintained relative security and reduced crime, the country faces a severe humanitarian emergency. Afghanistan is currently the only nation where girls are barred from secondary education, leaving 2.4 million girls excluded from school. The administration announced that the US terminated nearly all USAID humanitarian and development contracts in early 2025, which significantly reduced international aid. This move has contributed to as acute malnutrition among children and a mental-health emergency for women who are often isolated from public life. Despite the Taliban's success in curbing illicit drug production, the economy remains fragile and billions in state reserves remain frozen abroad. While the Taliban have secured a primary grip on power, the government faces the challenge of balancing its moral policing and centralized power with the need for international recognition and structural reform.

Sources

• Al Jazeera
  Photos: Patriotic music and flags mark Taliban rule anniversary in Kabul
• CNN
  Five years after the Taliban won, Afghanistan is still losing
• Al Jazeera
  What the Taliban achieved and failed to achieve in five years
• bbc.com
  'I'll keep believing in my right to a future': Afghan women share stories of life under Taliban rule
• The New York Times
  Entrenched, Embattled and Defiant, the Taliban Celebrate 5 Years in Power