Afghanistan - August 14, 2024

Afghanistan has held series of events nationwide to mark the third anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from the war-torn country.

On Aug 15, 2021, Taliban forces entered and seized control of the capital city of Kabul, prompting a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan.

At the Bagram base, a former U.S. air base in Afghanistan, a military parade was staged by the interim government.

In the capital city of Kabul, many people spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate the return of peace to Afghanistan.

Kabul University student Shafiqullah condemned the United States for disregarding human rights in other countries.

Noting that the U.S. military's 20-year presence in Afghanistan left the country devastated, Shafiqullah emphasized that the United States has continued to infringe upon Afghanistan, citing the illegal freezing of the Afghan central bank assets in the United States as a major obstacle to the post-war reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Shotlist:
Parwan Province, Afghanistan - Aug 14, 2024:
1. Various of military parade held by interim government in progress;
Kabul, Afghanistan -Aug 14, 2024
2. Various of vehicles, people on street, celebrating third anniversary of withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan;
3. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Abdul Ghani, local resident:
"We made new clothes for today and we are very happy about this day. Why do I feel very happy? Because the Afghans are safe now. Peace has come, the bleeding has stopped, and now the Afghans are living in peace.";
4. Various of vehicles, people on street, celebrating;
5. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Shafiqullah, student, Kabul University (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 6):
"There is no doubt that the ugly face of the United states and its allies who shouted about human rights in the past has now been fully exposed. What happening in Gaza is an example that has exposed the ugly face of all those who have termed themselves defenders of children's rights and women's rights.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
6. Vehicles, people on street, celebrating;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Various of celebration;
8. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Shafiqullah, student, Kabul University (full name not given) (ending with shot 9):
"As rights holders and the citizens of this country, we demand the return of our money. This is the right of every Afghan citizen.";
9. Various of vehicles, people on street, celebrating.

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