The Taliban are starting their fifth year of ruling Afghanistan. They have silenced internal dissent, tightened their control over Afghan life, secured recognition from Russia as the country's official government,

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.

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.