Taliban hold military parade to celebrate 3 years since Afghanistan takeover

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers celebrated three years in power at Bagram base on Wednesday. The Taliban hold a military parade paying tribute to their homemade bombs used in war, fighter aircraft, and goose-stepping security forces.

The forces showcased their Soviet-era tanks and artillery pieces. A group of motorbikes carrying yellow jerry cans, often used to transport homemade bombs during the fight against foreign forces, also drove past assembled officials. Chinese and Iranian diplomats were also present among hundreds of others who gathered for the parade and speeches.

Helicopters and fighter aircraft flew over the base, a significant display given that Taliban fighters were once imprisoned here. There was also a display of US-made armoured vehicles with the black-and-white flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan flapping above them.

Taliban forces took over the capital on August 15, 2021, following the collapse of the US-backed government and the exile of its leaders. The anniversary is marked a day earlier on the Afghan calendar.