Afghanistan marks five years since Taliban takeover and US withdrawal

Five years after the Taliban entered Kabul and ended the twenty-year American occupation, the transition from resistance to state-building continues in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of the final US military personnel on August 30, 2021, marked the collapse of the previous regime led by Ashraf Ghani.

Taliban leadership emphasizes a move toward independence and self-sufficiency. Defense Minister Mevlevi Muhammed Yakub Mücahid stated that the nation's politics, security, defense, and economy are no longer dependent on external powers. Similarly, Prime Minister Molla Muhammed Hasan Ahund expressed a desire for Afghanistan to live in peace, security, and prosperity with other nations while maintaining its sovereignty.