Taliban rulers mark five years in power at Afghanistan's Loya Jirga

Key Points:

• Taliban officials celebrated the fifth anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan, claiming to have brought stability and an end to decades of conflict, while thousands of citizens attended events under tight security in Kabul and other provinces.
• Despite Taliban claims of progress, a top UN official warned of a severe human rights crisis, highlighting bans on girls' education beyond sixth grade, restrictions on women’s public participation, and widespread abuses including arbitrary arrests and persecution of minorities.
• The Taliban government remains internationally isolated, with Russia the only country to formally recognize it; Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged other nations to engage with the administration for mutual benefit.
• UN agencies report alarming social challenges: UNESCO estimates 2.4 million girls are excluded from secondary education, the World Food Program warns of critical child malnutrition, and UN Women highlights the damaging impact of restrictions on women and girls for Afghanistan’s future.
• The UN special rapporteur described the Taliban’s gender-based policies as crimes against humanity, cautioning the international community against normalizing these violations as it would legitimize ongoing discrimination and suffering.