The Taliban on Monday celebrated one yr since taking management of Afghanistan as a “day of victory” amid an unprecedented humanitarian disaster and a collapsed financial system.

The group has struggled to control and stays internationally remoted. The financial downturn has pushed hundreds of thousands extra Afghans into poverty and even starvation, because the stream of overseas assist has slowed to a trickle.

The group has confronted criticism for imposing curbs on ladies’s rights, together with denying schooling to highschool ladies, as an alternative of focusing its consideration on reviving the aid-dependent financial system. Western sanctions imposed following the Taliban’s seize of energy final August have emptied  the financial system of the much-needed overseas assist – which fashioned almost 70 % of the financial system.

Taliban fighters, some hoisting rifles or the white banners of their motion, staged small victory parades on foot, bicycles and bikes within the streets of the capital. One small group marched previous the previous US Embassy, chanting “Lengthy reside Islam” and “Dying to America.”

The US-led forces withdrew from the nation final August after 20 years of occupation.