Afghanistan: Taliban celebrate 'Islamic law' on 3rd anniversary of rule

The Taliban have vowed to “stay the course of Islamic law” ; in Afghanistan during the celebrations of the third anniversary of their unchallenged reign, launched Wednesday morning at the Bagram military base.

Afghanistan must “stay the course of Islamic law,” Prime Minister Hassan Akhund said in a message read at the start of ceremonies at Bagram, where his presence had initially been announced.

Our leaders “must be mindful that our duties did not end with jihad (holy war), we now have the responsibility to stay the course of Islamic law,” the prime minister said in this message read to dozens of senior Taliban officials and senior officers.

Hundreds of guests were gathered at the former US air base — quite a symbol — about 50 km from Kabul.

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul without resistance, leading to the flight of the government and the collapse of the Western coalition led by the United States that had ousted them from power 20 years earlier.

Municipal workers and Taliban put up banners on a roundabout, on the eve of the third anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, on August 13, 2024 in Kabul © AFP – Wakil KOHSAR

They were taking back the Bagram base, the nerve center of operations against their insurgency. This anniversary is celebrated one day early, according to the Afghan calendar.

The military parade was to show off a lot of equipment recovered by the victorious insurgents following the hasty departure of Western forces.

– Special television programs –

Popular rallies are then planned in Kabul. Thousands of Afghans were invited to the capital from half a dozen central provinces, with heavy security measures.

The program for these street festivities that female journalists – Afghan and foreign – were not allowed to cover: athletic performances and poetry readings.

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Taliban security forces stand guard along a road in Kabul, August 13, 2024 © AFP – Wakil KOHSAR

Kabul's avenues, roundabouts and parks have been decorated with thousands of white and black flags of the Islamic Emirate.

Security forces are mobilized in large numbers, the main risk appearing to be a new attack by the Islamic State jihadist group, after the one that left one dead in a Shiite neighborhood of Kabul last Sunday.

< p>The invisible and mysterious emir Hibatullah Akhundzada, who lives in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar (south) and dictates the course of the country by decree, could speak on Wednesday.

< p>The Taliban apply Islamic law in an ultra-rigorous manner and do not tolerate any dissent.

For several days, television has multiplied the programs around this anniversary : special logo and long interviews with Taliban ministers.

On a banner of the RTA channel, we could read: “The pride (of the Afghans) comes from the blood shed by thousands of martyrs”.

After three years of Taliban rule, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with anaemic growth, massive unemployment and a severe humanitarian crisis.

A Taliban on an armoured vehicle at a checkpoint in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, on August 13, 2024 © AFP – Sanaullah SEIAM

The Taliban government is still not recognized by any country because of its repressive measures against women, who are gradually being excluded from the world of work and education.

But Kabul has made diplomatic gains by building relations with neighboring countries as well as China and Russia and has opened a dialogue with the West by participating in the Doha talks for the first time in June.

“Countries that cooperate with the Taliban should remind them of their abuses against women and girls,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement on the occasion of the anniversary. “Donors should provide aid to those who need it most and work toward a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.”

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