The Taliban will shower Kabul with flowers from helicopters for their takeover anniversary

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban will shower Kabul with flowers from helicopters to mark the fourth anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan, an official said Thursday.

The Taliban seized control of the country on Aug. 15, 2021, weeks before the U.S. and NATO withdrew their forces after a costly, two-decade war.

Defense Ministry helicopters will perform “beautiful aerial displays” above the Afghan capital on Friday to “shower the city” with colorful flowers, according to a note from Habib Ghofran, the spokesperson for the Information and Culture Ministry. There will be sports performances from Afghan athletes from the afternoon until the early evening, said Ghofran.

The planned celebrations come as Afghanistan struggles with a massive influx of refugees from neighboring countries, a faltering economy and cuts in foreign funding, especially from the U.S. Almost 10 million people face acute food insecurity and one in three children is stunted.

Black and white Taliban flags were displayed across Kabul on Thursday.

Ahsan Ullah Khan, from northern Sar-e-Pul province, encouraged the Afghan diaspora to return so they could see how peaceful the country was and how happy people were.

But Kabul resident, Zafar Momand, said Afghans needed more than peace.

“Along with peace we need employment and education opportunities. If these problems are solved then Afghanistan is the best country to live in," Momand said. "Women are also an important part of society. They should also have education and work opportunities.”

Females are barred from education beyond sixth grade, many jobs and most public spaces. It was not immediately clear if women would be present at or permitted to attend the anniversary festivities.

The director-general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, said Thursday that Afghanistan stood out as the only country in the world where secondary and higher education was strictly forbidden for girls and women.

"Nearly 2.2 million of them are now barred from attending school beyond primary level due to this regressive decision," said Azoulay. “This exclusion of women from public life has disastrous consequences for the country’s long-term development, where half the population already lives below the poverty line.”

Last year’s takeover anniversary celebrations were held at Bagram Airfield, once the center of America’s war to unseat the Taliban and hunt down the al-Qaida perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks.

Women were barred from that event, including female journalists from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

A man decorates his motorcycle with Taliban and Palestinian flags ahead of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the US withdraw from Afghanistan and the start of the Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday Aug. 14 , 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A man poses for the camera next to his bicycle while selling Taliban flags ahead of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the beginning of Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A man sells Taliban flags ahead of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the start of Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A Taliban policeman directs traffic on the eve of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the start of Taliban rule, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A man waves Taliban flags for sale amid traffic ahead of celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the start of Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Collin Graf and Pavol Regenda each had a goal and an assist and the San Jose Sharks used a three-goal second period to top the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Thursday night.

Zack Ostapchuk also scored, tying the game with the first of the Sharks' three goals in a span of 2:46. Alex Nedeljkovic made 21 saves for San Jose, which has won four of five.

Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard scored for the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin had an assist and Logan Thompson made 23 saves.

Strome put the Capitals up 1-0 at 10:58 of the second period, but the Sharks took over from there.

Ostapchuk tied it at 1 at 13:27 and Graf gave the Sharks the lead at 14:53 when he tipped in a pass from Regenda. San Jose went up 3-1 on Regenda's goal at 16:13.

Leonard made it a one-goal game at 9:11 of the third when beat Nedeljkovic.

Sharks: Play at Detroit on Friday night.

Capitals: Host Florida on Saturday night.

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk, right, celebrates his goal with San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) collides with San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

San Jose Sharks right wing Collin Graf (51) celebrates his goal with left wing Pavol Regenda (84) and others during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)