Team News Riveting
The Taliban-led Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan on Wednesday declared a national holiday and decorated the capital with coloured lights to celebrate the first anniversary of the withdrawal of US forces from the country.
An official event was organised at the Bagram Air Base from where the US forces operated in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years. Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund was present in the event.
“When the previous govt fell, the Islamic Emirate was left without any basic facilities,” Akhund said. The Islamic Emirate put an end to killings and bombings and ensured national security, he said, adding that when the foreigners departed Afghanistan, they took everything with them and imposed sanctions, which exacerbated the country’s poverty. He said the path of understanding, harmony, and brotherhood gets results, whereas pressures and sanctions do not.
“Happy Independence Day,” tweeted government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. In a separate statement, the government said the day marked “the country’s freedom from American occupation”.
Kabul on Wednesday morning wore a deserted look with a few Taliban fighters driving around the city and most residents staying indoors after the government declared a national holiday.
The plane carrying the last US troops took off from Kabul just a minute before midnight on August 31 last year. That departure ended America’s longest war that was launched following terrorist attacks on New York’s twin towers on September 11, 2001. Two weeks before the end of last year’s withdrawal, the Taliban seized power after a lightning offensive against government forces.
Banners celebrating victories against three empires — the former Soviet Union and Britain also lost wars in Afghanistan — flew high in Kabul on Wednesday. On Tuesday night, the skies above Kabul were lit up with fireworks and celebratory gunfire from crowds of Taliban fighters.
In Massoud Square, near the former US embassy, armed fighters carrying Taliban flags chanted “Death to America”. Others drove around the city honking their horns.
