On Friday, the Taliban and its supporters across Afghanistan marked the fourth anniversary of the fall of Kabul and the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to power. The rapid U.S. withdrawal and swift collapse of the Afghan government—after Washington had spent 20 years and over a trillion dollars supporting it—stands as the most significant geopolitical defeat for the United States in the 21st century so far.
Events took place nationwide, beginning Thursday night with celebrations at the site of the former U.S. Embassy in Kabul. On Friday, a parade of Taliban security forces moved through the capital as helicopters showered the city with flower petals. Streets and buildings were adorned with the white-and-black flag of the Taliban, now the official national flag.
Absent from this year’s observances was the military parade at Bagram Air Base, a former symbol of the U.S. occupation and a traditional showcase for the Taliban’s reconstituted military, featuring Western and Soviet-era weapons left behind after 2021. A parade had been planned but was canceled without explanation.
Instead, a gathering of government officials, religious scholars, and supporters was held at the Loya Jirga Hall in Kabul. Afghanistan’s reclusive Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada—who rarely appears in public and is never photographed—addressed the event through a statement read by a spokesman. In it, he hailed the restoration of security and the enforcement of Islamic law.
While security conditions have significantly improved since the end of four decades of war, Afghanistan continues to face deep economic hardship, with high unemployment, widespread poverty, and persistent food insecurity.
The Islamic Emirate remains largely isolated internationally, though Kabul has sought to expand its diplomatic reach. In July, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government, a major diplomatic breakthrough for Kabul. The Taliban has also established formal relations with China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, and several Central Asian nations—though these ties fall short of official recognition.