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Acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said his interim government is seeking to normalize relations with the United States, five years after US troops withdrew from Afghanistan. The statement signals the Taliban's continued efforts to gain international recognition and support amid a severe humanitarian and economic crisis.
Two UN staff members detained in Herat, Afghanistan since August 9 have been released by Taliban authorities on the morning of August 21, according to UNAMA. Their health is stable, and the UN says charges have been dropped, though the reason for their detention remains unclear.
Five years after seizing power, the Taliban has broadened ties with countries across security, trade, energy, and transport, despite lacking formal recognition from most of the world. Russia became the first to formally recognize the Afghan government in July 2025, while China, Central Asian states, and regional powers deepen engagement. Western nations remain in contact on security and humanitarian issues but still withhold official recognition.
Thousands of Taliban supporters rallied in Kabul on the fifth anniversary of the group's return to power, celebrating what they called a victory. Meanwhile, many residents voiced concerns over unemployment, rising prices, and restricted freedoms, and aid agencies highlighted ongoing humanitarian crises.
Five years after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, armed opposition groups remain active but fragmented, posing no significant threat to Taliban control. Recent clashes in Badakhshan highlight limited confrontations, while experts note that opposition groups are mostly based abroad and lack a unified strategy.
Thousands of Afghans evacuated to Europe after the Taliban's 2021 takeover are living in limbo as EU governments tighten asylum policies and even consider cooperating with the Taliban to repatriate some. Families like that of Abdul Wali in the Netherlands face an uncertain future, while Germany and other nations resume deportations.
Five years after retaking Afghanistan, the Taliban have achieved relative security and economic survival but have alienated the population through restrictive social policies, especially against women and girls. International recognition remains distant, and the regime's stability masks underlying vulnerabilities.
The UN warns that over half of women's organizations in Afghanistan could shut down within a year due to funding shortfalls, as the Taliban marks five years in power. UN Women's representative urges donors not to cut aid, emphasizing the worsening situation for Afghan women under more than 100 restrictive decrees.
UNESCO reports that around 2.4 million Afghan girls are currently denied secondary education, a number that could rise to 4 million by 2030. The agency calls on the Taliban to reverse restrictions on female schooling, highlighting severe impacts on literacy and teacher availability.
