On its 102nd Independence Day, Afghanistan is standing in a historic moment – the end of the two-decade U.S. war and the Taliban regaining control.

Months after U.S. President Joe Biden announced a full military withdrawal, the Taliban quickly expanded its reach across the country and swept into the capital, Kabul. The Afghan government collapsed as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

Biden defended his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in a speech at the White House on Monday, though he acknowledged that the Afghan government's collapse took place more quickly than expected.

Here's a recap of landmark events in the war-torn country since the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The war in Afghanistan came to an end with all the U.S. troops withdrawn. But what comes next for the country and Afghan people?

Let's hear what the world says about the Taliban.

Countries in the region, such as Iran and Turkey, raised concerns about a wave of refugees. European governments are now focusing much of their attention on extracting diplomatic personnel and Afghan nationals who worked with their forces.