Taliban authorities have declared Wednesday a national holiday to celebrate the end of the war. Garlands of green, blue or even red lights illuminated avenues in the capital on Tuesday evening, even if the government has not yet announced any official celebration in Kabul.

On August 30, 2021, one minute before midnight, the last American soldier flew out of Kabul airport 24 hours ahead of the deadline set by US President Joe Biden for the withdrawal of troops from the country.

“We are happy that Allah has got rid of the infidels from our country, and that the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban) has been established,” Zalmai, a pharmacist in Kabul, told AFP. “It proved once again that these infidels cannot unite against Muslims,” the trader added.

The withdrawal of troops a year ago ended the longest military intervention of the United States, started in response to the attack of September 11, 2001.

It claimed the lives of more than 2,400 American soldiers, according to the American army.

“The weight of the war in Afghanistan has gone beyond US borders,” the US military said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that more than 3,500 soldiers from other NATO countries had also been killed.

Countless Afghans have also “risked their lives and those of their families to serve with us”, she added. Tens of thousands of Afghans were killed during the war.

“Only the Afghans have the pride of defeating three empires in one century”, “Protecting freedom is obligatory”: could one read as of Tuesday on banners hung in Kabul where white flags of the Taliban fluttered bearing the declaration of Islamic faith.

Two weeks before the troop withdrawal, the Taliban seized power in a nationwide lightning offensive against former government forces.

The assault had led to chaos. A crowd of people had rushed to the airport in the Afghan capital to be evacuated out of the country on any flight.

Images of locals storming the airport and climbing onto planes parked on the tarmac, or trying to hold on to a US military cargo plane taking off have been seen around the world.

– Future “in danger” –

Since then, the 38 million Afghans have faced one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, according to the United Nations.

The situation only got worse after billions of dollars in foreign aid disbursements that had supported the Afghan economy for decades were suddenly halted with the withdrawal of US troops.

The difficulties of Afghans, especially women, have increased. Very quickly and despite their initial promise, the new masters of the country largely returned to the ultra-rigorous interpretation of Islam that had characterized their first passage to power between 1996 and 2001, severely restricting women’s rights.

Secondary schools for girls have been closed in many provinces and women barred from many public jobs. They have also been ordered to cover themselves fully in public, ideally with a full burqa.

“I used to work and now I’m sitting at home without a job. Our future is in danger because of the lack of education and jobs,” said Oranoos Omerzai, a resident of historic Kandahar. and center of Taliban power.

But for government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the overall situation has improved under their rule.

“Afghans are no longer being killed in war, foreign forces have withdrawn and security has improved,” Mujahid told reporters a week ago.