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The Taliban are celebrating one year since the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan

The Taliban are celebrating today the first anniversary of the US-led international coalition withdrawing from Afghanistan after twenty years of war and seizing power in the country.

Taliban authorities have declared today a national holiday to mark the end of the war. Green, blue and red light garlands have been adorning the streets of Kabul since Tuesday night, despite the fact that the government has not yet announced any official celebrations.

On August 30, 2021, one minute before midnight, the last American soldier departed from Kabul airport, 24 hours before the deadline set by American President Joe Biden for the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan.

“We are happy that Allah expelled the infidels from our country and that the Islamic Emirate (aka the Taliban) was established,” said Zalmai, a pharmacist from Kabul. “This proves once again that these infidels cannot unite against Muslims,” ​​he said.

The withdrawal of international troops a year ago ended the longest US military intervention, which began in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

It claimed the lives of more than 2,400 American soldiers, according to the military.

“The burden of the war in Afghanistan has reached beyond US borders,” the US military said in a statement yesterday, adding that more than 3,500 soldiers from other NATO countries had also been killed in Afghanistan.

Countless Afghans “have risked their lives and those of their families to serve alongside us,” the US military said. Tens of thousands of Afghans were killed during the war.

“Only Afghans can be proud of defeating three empires in a century”, “Protection of freedom is mandatory”: read the banners that had been raised in Kabul since yesterday along with the Taliban flag.

Two weeks before the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban had seized power in the country after a lightning attack.

The Islamist movement’s seizure of power caused chaos in the first days, with crowds of people rushing to Kabul airport to flee the country.

Images of Afghans running through the airport, being filmed by aircraft parked on the runway or trying to grab a US military transport plane before it took off went around the world.

Future “at risk”

Since then the 38 million Afghans are facing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world, according to the UN.

The situation worsened after the suspension of international aid to the country, which had supported the Afghan economy for decades.

The hardships of Afghans, and especially women, increased. Very quickly, and despite its initial promises, the new regime brought back the very strict version of Islam that had characterized its first period in power (1996-2001), significantly limiting women’s rights.

Girls’ secondary schools were closed, women were barred from the public sector and many jobs, and they were ordered to cover up completely when outside the home.

“I was working and now I’m sitting at home without a job. Our future is at risk because of the absence of education and work,” complained Oranous Omerzai, a resident of Kandahar, the historical stronghold of the Taliban.

However, according to government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the general situation in the country has improved.

“Afghans are no longer dying from war, foreign forces have withdrawn and security has improved,” he told reporters a week ago.

SOURCE: AMPE

Source: Capital

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