Taliban marked the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan with a national holiday on Monday, reports BSS.
Exactly a year ago, the hardline Islamists captured Kabul after their nationwide lightning offensive against government forces which ended 20 years of US-led military intervention.
Niamatullah Hekmat, a fighter who entered Kabul on August 15 last year just hours after then-president Ashraf Ghani fled the country said, "We fulfilled the obligation of jihad and liberated our country."
A chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, with tens of thousands of people rushed to Kabul's airport hoping to be evacuated on any flight out of Afghanistan.
Taliban authorities have so far not announced any official celebrations on the occasion of anniversary, but state television said it would air special programmes.
Taliban fighters, however, expressed happiness that their movement was now in power -- even as aid agencies say that half the country's 38 million people face extreme poverty.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
