Kathmandu— Taliban rulers and officials gathered at the Loya Jirga assembly hall in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday to commemorate five years since regaining control of the country, emphasizing restored stability after decades of conflict. The celebration occurred as Richard Bennett, a top United Nations official, issued a stark warning about a deepening human rights crisis, highlighting the exclusion of girls over age 12 from education and other severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban regime. The Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after a twenty-year war, leading to immediate instability and a desperate attempt by many Afghans to flee.

Taliban Celebrate ‘Liberation’

At the Loya Jirga assembly, high-ranking Taliban officials were joined by some foreign representatives and thousands of citizens for speeches celebrating what they described as Afghanistan's liberation from American forces. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat stated that they “pray to Almighty God to forever protect our homeland from occupation, aggression, wars, and insecurity.” Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy prime minister in charge of administrative affairs, claimed the Taliban’s rule ended an era of external interventions and internal strife, restoring security after a period where he said 300 Afghans were killed or martyred daily. Notably, no women were present at the ceremony.

Calls for International Engagement

Five years into their governance, the Taliban remain largely isolated on the international stage, with Russia being the only country to have formally recognized them. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged countries that haven’t established contact to reconsider their approach, arguing that engagement benefits all parties involved and calling for “a policy of engagement and mutual interaction.” Celebrations took place across Afghanistan, featuring Taliban flags and slogans displayed in public spaces, though security was tight with a heavy presence of Taliban forces.

UN Warns of Gender Persecution

In a video message, Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, described the situation as a “deep human rights crisis.” He questioned whether true peace had been achieved and emphasized the deteriorating conditions, particularly for women and girls. Bennett stated his mandate has concluded that the Taliban’s system amounts to the crime against humanity of gender persecution, extending beyond discrimination to what he termed ‘gender apartheid.’ The U.N. continues to document arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, and persecution of minorities within Afghanistan.

Education and Malnutrition Crisis

UNESCO estimates that approximately 2.4 million girls are currently excluded from secondary education in Afghanistan. Molvi Hayatullah Mahajar Farahi, deputy minister for broadcasting at the Ministry of Information and Culture, highlighted security improvements and infrastructure development over the past five years but did not address concerns regarding female education, instead claiming investment in universities has surpassed previous levels. The U.N. World Food Program reports that child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces and is projected to worsen due to funding shortages. U.N. Women also warned this week that the restrictions imposed on women are damaging Afghanistan's future, threatening its social and economic foundations by creating shortages of essential professionals like teachers and healthcare workers.

The Taliban continue to consolidate their control over Afghanistan while facing international condemnation for their human rights record, leaving the country at a critical juncture with significant challenges ahead.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.