Taliban hoist giant flag in Kabul, eight months after return to power

The Taliban raised a giant white flag of their movement on a hill overlooking the Afghan capital in a ceremony held nearly eight months after they returned to power. Several hundred Taliban, many armed, attended the ceremony presided over by Abdul Salam Hanafi, a deputy prime minister, on the hill in Wazir Akbar Khan, near the mostly deserted diplomatic enclave in Kabul.

The Taliban raised a giant white flag of their movement on a hill overlooking the Afghan capital on March 31 in a ceremony held nearly eight months after they returned to power. Credit: Reuters Photo

Several hundred Taliban, many armed, attended the ceremony presided over by Abdul Salam Hanafi, a deputy prime minister, on the hill in Wazir Akbar Khan, near the mostly deserted diplomatic enclave in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo

Measuring 40 metres (130 feet) wide and 26 metres high, the white flag is decorated with the Islamic profession of faith in black letters. Credit: AFP Photo

The commander of the Taliban army Qari Fasihuddin speaks during a flag hoisting ceremony of the Taliban flag on the Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo

The flag-raising comes a week after the Taliban shut down all girls' secondary schools just hours after they allowed them to reopen for the first time since August. Credit: AFP Photo

Members of Taliban offer prayers at the venue after a flag hoisting ceremony of the Taliban flag on the Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo

A Taliban fighter is seen at the Taliban flag-raising ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit: Reuters Photo

A man wears a flag at the venue for a flag hoisting ceremony of the Taliban flag on the Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo

A Taliban fighter stands guard at the venue for a flag hoisting ceremony of the Taliban flag on the Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul. Credit: AFP Photo