India, Aug. 15 -- Five years ago on this date, as thousands of Afghans stormed Hamid Karzai International Airport hoping to get out, fighters from the Taliban walked into Kabul unopposed. The US and its allies had fought the group for 20 years while backing the Afghan government in Kabul.

That government collapsed within days as coalition troops withdrew. August 15, 2026 - the day India marks its 80th Independence Day - is also the fifth anniversary of that collapse, being celebrated by the Taliban as its "Victory Day".

As the Taliban took control, chaos followed in Kabul.

Commercial flights were cancelled as thousands swarmed into the airport. Desperate to escape, some clung on to a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport plane while ...