Afghanistan celebrates Independence Day 'full of pride'

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Afghanistan celebrated its 105th Independence Day on Sunday with the Taliban leaders declaring the day "full of pride."

At a ceremony in the capital Kabul to commemorate the country's independence from British colonial rule, acting Foreign Minister Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi emphasized Afghanistan's "hard-won" freedom, state-run Bakhtar News reported.

"Freedom is bought with the sword, courage and sacrifices," Muttaqi said, adding: "Free nations are those who have tasted independence and will never accept slavery."

Addressing the ceremony, acting Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani said: "Today is a day full of pride in the history of our great nation."

"Our ancestors have fought for a long time and made immense sacrifices to free Afghanistan from the grip of the British," he was quoted as saying.

"This hard-won independence must be strictly protected and preserved for future generations," he maintained.

The Taliban administration declared Aug. 18 as a public holiday in the country.

Earlier, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs also declared Aug. 15 as a public holiday to mark the “victory over the US and its allies.”

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021 as the officials of the US-backed Kabul administration fled the country and foreign forces withdrew.