The Taliban marked a year since the end of two decades of foreign presence with a public show of fireworks and celebrations. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, completed after twenty years of conflict, was the backdrop for the latest ceremonies in Kabul and across the country.
The last U.S. military aircraft departed Kabul airport just before midnight on August 30, 2021, setting the stage for a new chapter. Early that morning, celebrations in the capital unfolded with gunfire lighting the sky, a stark symbol of the moment of transition as Afghan authorities faced a new reality and the Taliban consolidated power. Fireworks replaced the earlier bursts of gunfire, and large crowds of supporters and onlookers in the streets joined in the spectacle, waving a white flag bearing the Shahada as a sign of the new regime of the Islamic Emirate widely seen across the country.
Leaders from the Taliban government appeared online last night, and by morning messages of happiness and independence flooded social networks as Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamist spokesman, reflected on a day described by his administration as a new era for Afghanistan free from foreign occupation. The day, declared a holiday by the authorities, began with public displays and symbols associated with the older regime, including a flag and insignia once used by opposing forces in the past.
The Ministry of Interior released footage of security units and promises to safeguard what it called an independent Afghanistan under Islamic rule. In the messages from security services, officials stated their commitment to maintaining order, peace, and national unity achieved through sacrifice and strong belief.
Second celebration in a month
The Islamist government had already begun commemorations on August 15, which marked the anniversary of militants taking Kabul and the country after the fall of the government backed by the United States. The withdrawal of Western forces was completed on August 30, with a final flight signaling the end of two decades of military presence in the country. The United States had agreed to withdraw all personnel and contractors under terms associated with the Doha Agreement reached in February 2020, a pact that included guarantees intended to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. The departure was framed by both sides as the end of a long chapter, even as questions about future security and governance remained in the air.
The rapid sequence of events during the withdrawal left Afghan forces without critical support. The speed of the collapse surprised many observers and underscored the challenges faced by the leadership that had controlled the security apparatus for years. Reports described a security vacuum as the Taliban moved to reassert control over major districts and cities, often with little resistance. In the chaos that followed, many Afghan citizens and those who had worked with foreign forces sought to leave the country, and some crowds gathered in Kabul in the days surrounding the final departures by American forces.
The final U.S. military aircraft departure, landing on the edge of midnight, carried a delegation including then Ambassador to Afghanistan, whose departure symbolized the formal end of a twenty-year relationship between the United States and Afghanistan. The scene stood as a stark reminder of the long and painful journey endured by the Afghan people and international partners, and it prompted reflection on the costs and consequences of the decades-long intervention and military presence in the region. The broader implications for regional stability, governance, and security were subjects of discussion among global observers, foreign ministries, and aid organizations as the country entered a new phase in its history.