US-led forces routed the Taliban in weeks following the October 7, 2001 launch of Operation Enduring Freedom. But five years later, the hard-line Islamists and their militant allies have mounted their most sustained campaign of violence.

Women were banned from working under the Taliban. Now, Jan works with a dozen other women in a Ministry of Communications call centre.

"We're worried when we come to work. You can see how the situation is getting worse every day," said Jan.

There have been 56 suicide attacks in Afghanistan so far this year compared with 17 the whole of last year. Dozens of people have been killed in blasts in Kabul over the past month.

"People have to have security where they live but there's no security. How can we work and enjoy working outside our homes?" Jan asked.

About 40,000 foreign troops, half of them American, are in Afghanistan -- the most since 2001. Fighting is largely confined to the countryside in the south and east. But bombers have struck across the country.

The anniversary of the start of the US-led offensive is not being marked in Afghanistan. Most people are not aware of it.

"The purpose of the American invasion of Afghanistan was to destroy al Qaeda, but they couldn't," said former policeman Abdul Mohib, when asked about the anniversary.

"Now we see al Qaeda is stronger than five years ago and people are suffering a lot because of their underground operations."

Millions of refugees have returned since 2001 and millions of children are back in school. Hundreds of clinics and many hundreds of kilometres of roads have been built.

New shops and offices have gone up in Kabul but the power is still intermittent and many streets are in a dire condition. Many ordinary Afghans say their lives are no better.

"The only changes we can see since the US invasion is the return of some refugees and the freedom," said student Ghulam Haider. "We're happy about this but we still face a lot of challenges."

Most Afghans say they want foreign troops to stay, at least until their own security forces can take over.

But some blame the foreigners.

"Since the Americans invaded Afghanistan there has been no change to the lives of ordinary Afghans, especially security," said Kabul resident Qayoom Khan.

"The cause of all the misery in this country is America."