The Taliban-led government of Afghanistan marked Tuesday the second anniversary of its return to power by declaring a national holiday.
On Aug. 15, 2021, Taliban fighters entered the Afghan capital Kabul and stormed the country's presidential palace after more than two decades without facing any resistance from the internationally-backed Afghan government forces and amid a chaotic withdrawal of NATO forces.
Taliban authorities held official events across different Afghan provinces Tuesday to mark two years under their rule, celebrating what they called "Afghanistan's Independence Day from the U.S. occupation."
"The conquest of Kabul proved once again that no one can control the proud nation of Afghanistan and guarantee their stay in this country," the Taliban government said in a statement published in several languages, including English.
Speaking at an event in Kabul, the Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi called for good relations with all the countries of the world.
So far, no country in the world has recognized the Taliban's de facto government.
Hanafi said that if the world wants the elimination of drugs and the end of illegal migration, governments should support the implementation of huge development projects in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, many Afghans commemorated Aug. 15 as a dark day in the country's history and changed their profile pictures on social media to black.
Since taking control of the country once again, the Taliban have drastically restricted human rights.
They had initially promised to govern more moderately than during their reign between 1996 and 2001, but their rule has become increasingly restrictive, with girls and women suffering the most.
Tens of thousands of Afghans have sought asylum in different countries across the world to avoid persecution.
