August 19th Marked Afghanistan’s Independence Day

August 19^th marked the 104^th anniversary of Afghanistan regaining its independence from British colonialism.

The anniversary of Afghanistan’s Independence marks 104^thyear of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, one that brought the Third Anglo-Afghan War to an end. This treaty was signed on the 8^th of August of 1919 in Punjab. According to the 5^th article of the treaty, Britain recognised Afghanistan’s Independence and agreed that India would not extend past the Khyber Pass, and it also stopped the British subsidies to Afghanistan. As per this agreement, Afghanistan also committed to the agreement of Duran Line arrangement with the then British India. The Durand Line divides Pashtun and Baluch people, and it continues to be a source of tension between the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Durand border is not an officially recognised line by the Afghans.

Every year, the Independence Day of Afghanistan is celebrated both by Afghans within the country and Afghans overseas. This year, while the Taliban held official events under the Taliban flag, the people all across Afghanistan and overseas celebrated this day with the tricolored flag.

Photo: Taliban’s Celebration of Afghanistan’s 104^th Independence Day

Source: Xinhua

On these platforms, the Taliban yet again called upon the international community to collaborate with their regime and remove sanctions that weigh heavily on their rule. However, these sanctions have been placed on the Taliban as a result of the crimes committed by their regime not only for the past 20 years, but also since their takeover of the country.

As the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15^th of 2021, they shut down all schools and universities for girls, banned women from working, employment, traveling by themselves, going to the parks, going to beauty salons, and more. The Taliban have also reportedly changed the educational curriculum for boys and have replaced the former educational curriculum with one that emphasises less on humanities and the sciences, emphasises more extremism, war, and Jihad. In addition, the Taliban have also severely restricted freedom of speech as they continue targeted killings that do not often get reported.

Unlike the Taliban regime, celebrations carried out by civilians took a distinct and brave form.

Photo: Celebration of Afghanistan’s Independence Day on the Streets of Kabul

Photo: Celebration of Afghanistan’s Independence Day Overseas

Afghan activists and public figures also congratulated all Afghans on the 104^th anniversary of the country’s regaining of its independence.

The captain of Afghanistan’s National Cricket Team, Rashid Khan, took to twitter a video of himself with the country’s tricolor flag and wished for a united nation and country. Similarly, the team’s batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, shared a video of himself with the tricolored flag and congratulated all Afghans on this anniversary. Afghan singer, Aryana Sayeed, sang the country’s national anthem and stood by the tricolored flag.

While the anniversary of Afghanistan’s Independence has arguably been controversial for the past two years, the activities and celebrations carried out suggest a nation that strives to be free and one that is thirsty for unity, freedom of speech and freedom of choice.