Taliban leaders mark 5 years in power in Afghanistan as UN official warns of crisis

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Taliban rulers and other officials gathered at Afghanistan’s traditional Loya Jirga assembly hall on Saturday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their return to power, touting having brought stability and an end to conflict after decades of upheaval. A top United Nations official, however, warned of a grave human rights crisis in the country where girls above the age of 12 are denied an education.The Taliban seized power on Aug. 15, 2021, as the U.S. and other NATO troops withdrew following a costly two-decade war. The U.S. withdrawal led to chaos at Kabul airport as crowds of people tried to flee the country in desperation.Soon after taking power, the Taliban administration imposed a ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade and later also banned higher education for women, despite having pledged before the takeover that women would be allowed access to education, employment and public participation.Women have also been banned from public spaces such as gyms and parks, from taking part in sports and traveling to distant locations without a male guardian.At the Loya Jirga, high-ranking officials were joined by some foreign representatives and thousands...