Kathmandu— Five years have passed since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan amidst a tumultuous evacuation of US troops, marking an end to two decades of American military presence. Celebrations were held across the nation on Saturday as officials proclaimed Afghanistan safer and “free,” despite ongoing international sanctions and limited foreign recognition. The US invasion in 2001, launched after the September 11 attacks and targeting Al-Qaeda leaders sheltered by the Taliban, ultimately led to a $2.3 trillion expenditure for American taxpayers before culminating in the withdrawal and subsequent collapse of the Western-backed government in Kabul.

Two Decades of Conflict and Intervention

The United States invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, seeking to dismantle Al-Qaeda following the September 11 attacks. Osama bin Laden and other leaders of the terrorist group were based in Afghanistan under Taliban protection at that time. For twenty years, US forces occupied the country, incurring an estimated cost of $2.3 trillion for American taxpayers. This long period of intervention ultimately concluded with the withdrawal of troops in August 2021.

Taliban’s Return and Claims of Stability

Following the US withdrawal, the Western-backed Afghan government rapidly collapsed, allowing the Taliban to recapture Kabul. Since regaining power, the Taliban has asserted that it has brought an end to much of the decades-long fighting within Afghanistan. Supporters marked Saturday as “Fatah,” or “victory” day, with celebrations held throughout Kabul. Thousands gathered waving flags of the Islamic Emirate and displaying US-made weapons abandoned after the withdrawal.

International Isolation and Sanctions

Despite claims of improved security, Afghanistan remains subject to widespread international sanctions. The Taliban government continues to struggle with limited recognition from foreign nations. RT India’s Runjhun Sharma recently traveled to Afghanistan to assess the changes within the country and verify the safety claims made by authorities, noting that “there’s a lot of nuance, a lot of layers to the Taliban story.”

Shifting Global Focus

Once a central focus of US foreign policy, Afghanistan has largely receded from Western attention in the years following the withdrawal. The country's situation remains complex, with ongoing challenges related to sanctions and international recognition.

RT India plans to release a series of reports on Afghanistan as part of its coverage of the region.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.