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The Taliban has designated August 31 as a national holiday to celebrate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, which comes after the Taliban seizes power in 2021.
On Saturday, the Taliban government announced that August 31, the day the last US troops left Afghanistan, would become an official national holiday. The Council of Ministers takes this decision.
The Taliban government of #Afghanistan said the last day U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, August 31, 2021, will be a national holiday.
???? pic.twitter.com/saWCzd7Ude— Mete Sohtaoglu (@metesohtaoglu) June 18, 2023
The Taliban mark the first anniversary of the departure of American troops from Afghanistan. The country’s government, which has not been officially recognized by other countries, has designated August 31 as a public holiday in 2021. To celebrate last year’s withdrawal, the capital Kabul lit up with colorful lights .
On August 31 of the previous year, banners celebrated victories over the former Soviet Union, Britain and the United States. Hundreds of white Taliban flags were also raised on government buildings.
Additionally, the departure of US troops precipitated an exodus and flights were ordered to evacuate people from Kabul airport.
Just two weeks before the full withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban seized power, marking the end of two decades of brutal war. NATO troops entered Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which sparked the conflict.
US General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters: “I am here to announce our withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of the military evacuation mission for the Americans.
He said: “Tonight’s withdrawal marks the end of the evacuation of military components but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11, 2001.”
In addition to the 2,461 American servicemen, some 66,000 Afghan soldiers and 48,000 civilians died in the conflict, as well as more than 3,500 soldiers from other NATO countries.
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