Taliban mark anniversary of foreign troop exit with chants, military parade

The Taliban celebrated the first anniversary of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan Wednesday with victory chants and a military parade showcasing equipment left behind by US-led forces.

Afghanistan's new rulers -- not formally recognised by any other nation -- have reimposed their harsh version of Islamic law on the impoverished country, with women squeezed out of public life.

Despite the restrictions, and a deepening humanitarian crisis, many Afghans say they are glad the foreign forces that prompted the Taliban insurgency left after a brutal 20-year war.

"Since the Americans left there is no war and that makes us happy," Kabul shopkeeper Naseer Ahmad Safi told AFP.

"Business was good when foreign forces were present, but it will get better again. It's been only one year of the Islamic Emirate."

In a statement, the government said the day marked "the country's freedom from American occupation".

"So many mujahideen were wounded, so many children orphaned, and so many women became widows."

The authorities held an official celebration that included a military parade at Bagram Airbase, the nerve centre of US operations during the war.

Groups of Taliban fighters -- dressed in traditional shalwar kameez and carrying rocket-propelled grenades -- marched as helicopters flew by, video footage aired by state television showed.

Minutes later, dozens of military vehicles including humvees and artillery tanks, seized in the war or left behind by US forces during their chaotic withdrawal, were paraded.

Foreign media outlets were not given access to the event.

Celebrations were also held in several provinces, with locals reading poems and verses from the holy Koran.

In Kandahar, the Taliban's de facto power centre, hundreds of the group's fighters chanted victory slogans as they drove through the area in convoys.

Banners celebrating victories against three world powers -- the former Soviet Union and Britain also lost wars in Afghanistan -- flew in Kabul.

Hundreds of white Taliban flags bearing the Islamic proclamation of faith flew from lamp posts and government buildings, while squares in the capital were decorated with lights.

Kabul residents chose to stay indoors after the authorities declared a national holiday, but hundreds of Taliban fighters gathered at Massoud Square, next to the now shut US embassy.

"Death to America! Death to occupation! Long live freedom!" chanted the fighters as many performed a victory dance.

"The flag of Islam is flying high. We are happy to live under the banner of Islam," fighter Shah Ahmad Omari said.

The plane carrying the last US troops took off from Kabul at midnight as August 31 began last year.

That departure ended America's longest war, which began in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

More than 66,000 Afghan troops and 48,000 civilians were killed in the conflict, but it was the deaths of US service members -- 2,461 in total -- that became too much for the American public to bear.

"The burden of the war in Afghanistan, however, went beyond Americans," the US military said Tuesday.

More than 3,500 troops from other NATO countries were also killed.

Thousands of civilians were also killed in horrific bomb and gun attacks by the Taliban during the war.

Two weeks before the end of last year's withdrawal, the Taliban seized power following a lightning offensive against government forces.

Taliban social media accounts posted videos and pictures of newly trained troops -- many flaunting equipment the US military left behind.

"This is how you troll a superpower after humiliating them and forcing them to withdraw from your country," read a tweet with a photo of a giant Taliban flag now painted on the wall of the former US embassy.

Despite the Taliban's pride in taking over, Afghanistan's 38 million people face a desperate humanitarian crisis -- aggravated after billions of dollars in assets were frozen and foreign aid dried up.

Hardships for ordinary Afghans, especially women, have increased.

The Taliban have shut girls' secondary schools in many provinces and barred women from many government jobs.

They have also ordered women to fully cover up in public -- ideally with an all-encompassing burqa.

"There is no good memory of the past year. I have to think twice about what to wear before stepping out, to avoid a beating by the Taliban," said Marwa Naseem, a female Kabul resident.

"It also hurts to see that girls cannot go to school, which is part of a normal life anywhere. The Taliban is using religion just to prevent women from progressing."

But government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid last week claimed there had been "major achievements" in the past year.

"Afghans are no longer being killed in war, foreign forces have withdrawn, and security has improved," he told reporters.