In the four years since the Taliban took control of Kabul, millions of Afghans who initially fled have now been expelled from Iran and Pakistan.

The Taliban barred women from attending celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan

Aug. 15 marks four years since the Taliban captured Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul only hours after U.S. troops withdrew. Four years later, Afghan refugees in Toronto reflect on their journeys.

Over the course of the past four years since the Taliban took control of Kabul, plunging Afghanistan into a humanitarian crisis and stripping away women's rights, millions of Afghans who initially fled have now been expelled from Iran and Pakistan,

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew after more than two decades of a costly war. Four years have now passed.

Afghanistan's Taliban authorities marked the fourth anniversary of their takeover on Friday buoyed by Russia's first official recognition of their government, a step they hope other countries will follow.