Photos: Patriotic music and flags mark Taliban rule anniversary in Kabul

Crowds create a carnival-like atmosphere in Afghanistan’s capital as Taliban celebrates five years since its return to power.A Taliban fighter holds a yellow canister meant to represent a homemade explosive in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, as he rides in a vehicle with children during celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the group’s return to power. [Atif Aryan/AFP]Published On 16 Aug 202616 Aug 2026Thousands of Taliban supporters have poured into central Kabul, waving white flags and chanting religious slogans, as authorities marked five years since the group swept back into power and brought an end to the Western-backed republic.Convoys of cars and pick-up trucks festooned with Taliban banners rolled through the streets on Saturday towards a main gathering outside a compound housing key ministries. Heavily armed fighters stood guard around the area as senior officials addressed the crowd, praising what they called the “victory of the Islamic Emirate” and promising to continue enforcing their vision of governance.Taliban leaders used the anniversary to claim credit for restoring security and national sovereignty, pointing to the absence of large-scale fighting since foreig...