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

Graphic charting US troop deployment and death tolls in Afghanistan since 2001.

Despite the Taliban's pride in taking over, Afghanistan's 38 million people face a desperate humanitarian crisis

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

- Victory chants -

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.

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

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

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.

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

- 'No good memory' -

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

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.

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

"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.

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

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