Afghan Taliban display military prowess on anniversary of regaining power

Afghanistan’s Taliban on Wednesday celebrated the third anniversary of their return to power with a military parade held at a former US airbase.

Helicopters and fighter aircraft flew over the Bagram base located 40 kilometres (24.9 miles) north of the capital Kabul, while the Taliban’s armed forces towed US-made armoured personnel carriers, Soviet-era tanks and other artillery equipment, local broadcaster Tolonews reported.

Thousands of people, including senior Taliban officials, acting Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob and acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and diplomats, including Chinese and Iranian, gathered to witness the parade.

The former Bagram base was once used by the US-led forces for their operations against the Taliban fighters. Hundreds of the Taliban members also remained imprisoned there for years.

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Addressing the parade, Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir reiterated that neither any country will be allowed to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs nor would the Afghan soil be used against any country.

Earlier, in his message, interim Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund said that the responsibility of the "Islamic Emirate" towards Afghans has not ended and that efforts must continue to sustain the regime and ensure stability in the country.

"Mujahideen, officials, and the entire faithful nation must be aware that our duty did not end with the victory in jihad. We now have the responsibility to strengthen the regime, rebuild the country, protect the people's property and honour, and compensate for the damage caused by previous wars," Akhund was quoted as saying.

The Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021, following the pullout of the US-led forces after two decades of war.