Five years have passed since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, entering Kabul in August 2021 as United States forces completed their withdrawal after two decades of war. The anniversary finds a country still grappling with the consequences of that transition, and a population divided over what the years since have brought.

Inside Afghanistan, the Taliban government has consolidated its authority and points to a reduction in the large-scale fighting that defined earlier years. But the country continues to face significant difficulties in the period since the withdrawal.

Women and girls have been among those most affected by the government's policies. Restrictions have kept girls out of secondary schools and universities and limited women's participation in public life. These measures have drawn objections from foreign governments and rights organizations and remain a central obstacle to broader international recognition of the Taliban administration.

The Taliban also faces armed opposition. Several groups continue to challenge its rule, and the regional affiliate of the Islamic State has carried out attacks. How the government will manage that resistance, and whether it can extend its control across all of Afghanistan, remains an open question after five years.

Beyond the country's borders, the fate of Afghans who fled has grown more uncertain. Many sought refuge in Europe, where several governments have moved to tighten asylum and immigration policies. That political shift has left many Afghan refugees unsure whether they will be allowed to remain.

A parallel uncertainty confronts Afghans who supported the United States during the war and later resettled in America. Some who worked alongside U.S. forces now express concern about the security of their immigration status, including their green cards, amid shifting policy in Washington. For these families, the anniversary is a reminder of promises made during the conflict and questions about whether those commitments will hold.

The war that shaped a generation is over. But its consequences are still unfolding, both for those who stayed and for the many who left.

References

1. 1.Source headlines — Taliban's return to power in August 2021 amid U.S. withdrawal
2. 2.Source headlines — restrictions on women's and girls' education and public participation
3. 3.Source headlines — armed opposition and Islamic State regional affiliate attacks
4. 4.Source headlines — tightening of European asylum and immigration policies affecting Afghan refugees
5. 5.Source headlines — concerns of U.S.-allied Afghans over immigration status and green cards