The fourth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power saw 10,000 people gather to celebrate - but on leader Hibatullah Akhundzada's orders, only men were invited

Afghanistan is entering its fifth year under Taliban rule facing economic hardships, women's rights repression, internal power struggles and shifting regional ties.

The Taliban are starting their fifth year of ruling Afghanistan. They have silenced internal dissent, tightened their control over Afghan life, secured recognition from Russia as the country's official government,

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban Friday marked the fourth anniversary of their return to power with a high-profile event at a local hotel.Sardar Shakeeb, the newly designated Afghan Ambassador

Documents seen by the BBC suggest he was part of a special forces unit who worked with the British in Afghanistan.

Since Friday, the Taliban has overrun bastions of government control, snatching more than a quarter of Afghanistan’s 34 provincial capitals on its way to controlling an estimated 65% of the country.

The metal sides of the old green wheelbarrow blazed under the scorching sun, too searing to touch with my bare hands. As we pushed through the crowd, Taliban fighters loomed like spectres of death. Their eyes swept over us. One wrong move, one suspicious glance, and this wheelbarrow would become my coffin.