the taliban in afghanistan

8/22/2019 The Taliban in Afghanistan

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The Taliban in AfghanistanAuthor: Jayshree Bajoria

Updated: October 6, 2011

Introduction

Rise of the Taliban

Opposition, Then and Now

Early Supporters

Leadership and Structure

Afghan Public Opinion of the Taliban

The Road Ahead

Introduction

The Taliban, an Islamic extremist group, took control of Afghanistan's government in 1996 and ruled until the 2001

U.S.-led invasion drove it from power. The group is known for having provided safe haven to al-Qaedaand its

erstwhile leader Osama bin Laden, as well as for its rigid interpretation of Islamic law, under which it publicly

executed criminals and outlawed the education of women. Though the group has been out of power for several

years, it remains resilient in the region and operatesparallel governance structuresaimed at undermining the U.S.-

backed central government. Pakistan's support and safe havens for the Taliban have stymied international efforts to

end the insurgency in Afghanistan; the United States is set to withdraw its combat forces from the country by 2014.

Since 2010, both U.S. and Afghan officials have been pursuing talks with members of the group for a negotiated

settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan. But prospects for such a settlement remain uncertain and have raised

concerns among Afghanistan's minorities and women who worry their rights and freedoms may be compromised.

Rise of the Taliban

The Taliban was initially a mixture of mujahadeen who fought against the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, and a group

of Pashtun tribesmen who spent time in Pakistani religious schools, ormadrassas, and received assistance from

Pakistan'sInter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). The group's leaders practiced Wahhabism, an orthodox form of

Sunni Islam similar to that practiced in Saudi Arabia. With the help of government defections, the Taliban emerged

as a force in Afghan politics in 1994 in the midst of a civil war between forces in northern and southern

Afghanistan. They gained an initial territorial foothold in the southern city of Kandahar, and over the next two years

expanded their influence through a mixture of force, negotiation, and payoffs. In 1996, the Taliban captured capital

Kabul and took control of the national government.

Taliban rule was characterized by a strict form of Islamic law, requiring women to wear head-to-toe veils, banning

television, and jailing men whose beards were deemed too short. One act in particular, the destruction of the giant

Buddha statues in Bamiyan, seemed to symbolize the intolerance of the regime. The feared Ministry for the

Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice authorized the use of force to uphold bans on un-Islamic activities.

Before its ouster by U.S.-led forces in 2001, the Taliban controlled some 90 percent of Afghanistan's territory,

although it was never officially recognized by the United Nations. After its toppling, the Taliban has proved

resilient. In June 2011, the International Crisis Group reported that the Taliban had expanded (PDF)far beyond its

stronghold in the south and southeast to central-eastern provinces. "Insurgent leaders have achieved momentum in

the central-eastern provinces by employing a strategy that combines the installation of shadow governments,

intimidation, and the co-opting of government officials," it noted.

While a surge in U.S. troops in 2010 and improved capacity of the Afghan security forces has put increasing

pressure on the Taliban, in March 2011, the U.S. military viewed the security gains achieved in the last year as
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"fragile and reversible." A February 2011 report from the London-based International Council on Security and

Development (ICOS) noted thatinsurgents are adapting their tactics. "Insurgents are now avoiding firefights and

direct attacks on NATO-ISAF/Afghan positions, and are focusing on using roadside bombs and targeted killings

instead," the report says. Assassinations of high-level Afghan officials, experts say, are designed to intimidate

Afghan civilians and erode public confidence in their security forces. In its report to Congress in September 2011,

the White House cited polls showing only 33 percent of the Afghan population consideredsecurity in their

communities to be good, compared to 50 percent in June 2010. "This change," it noted, "appears to affirm the

effectiveness of the insurgents' strategy of perception-oriented targeting."

Opposition, Then and Now

Western governments and anti-Taliban elements inside Afghanistan have countered the group through varying

tactics since 2001. Factions opposed to the Taliban's policies in northern Afghanistan coalesced around their mutual

disdain for the fundamentalists, and formed the so-called Northern Alliance. Made up predominantly of Tajiks,

Uzbeks, and Hazara Shiites, the alliance opposed the Taliban after its formation and assisted U.S. forces in routing

the group after 9/11. According to some reports, thegroup started rearming in 2010 (Telegraph)following efforts

by the Afghan government to strike a peace deal with the Taliban.

Taliban propaganda has convinced a segment of Afghan public opinion that foreign

troops and the Afghan government are the main threat to their physical security. --

ICG

Prior to September 11, 2001, Western dealings with the Taliban involved a mix of diplomacy and soft power. In its

final years in power, the Taliban became increasingly isolated and faced severe UN Security Council sanctions. The

administration of U.S. President Bill Clinton held direct talks with the group, though Washington never recognized

the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan. A series of Security Council resolutions urged the Taliban to

end its abusive treatment of women, and in August 1997, the U.S. State Department ordered the Afghan embassy in

Washington closed. In October 1999, the Security Councilimposed sanctionsagainst the Taliban and al-Qaeda,

freezing funds and restricting travel of the groups' members. The sanctions have been updated nine times since, most

recently withResolution 1988andResolution 1989adopted in June 2011.

Early Supporters

Prior to the group's ouster in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban's main supporters were Saudi Arabia and

Pakistan. Along with the United Arab Emirates, they were the only countries to recognize Taliban-led Afghanistan.

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan cooperated in efforts by the

CIA to arm the anti-Communist mujahadeen. After the Soviet withdrawal, Afghanistan ceased to be a priority for

U.S. strategists, but Saudi Arabia and Pakistan continued their support. Involvement in Afghanistan served a

strategic interest for Pakistan, which also has a large ethnic Pashtun population, and appealed to the conservative

Wahhabi Muslims who hold substantial political clout in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also supported the Taliban in its

quest for"strategic depth" in Afghanistanin order to balance its foremost rival, India. After the 9/11 terrorist

attacks, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia became partners in the U.S.-led "war on terrorism" and halted their official

support of the Taliban.
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But several U.S. officials and experts believe the Taliban is still receiving support from the Pakistani security

establishment, which, they say, sees these groups as proxies for their influence in Afghanistan once the international

forces withdraw. Pakistani officials have repeatedly denied offering support to the Taliban and point to a buildup of

tens of thousands of forces on their border with Afghanistan as proof of their commitment to stopping infiltrations.

ThePakistani Taliban, organizationally distinct from the Afghan group, rose up in 2002 in response to the

Pakistani army's incursions into that country's tribal areas to hunt down militants.

Beyond Pakistan, U.S. officials have accusedIran of abetting the Talibanby supplying militants with Iranian-

made weapons--including deadly roadside bombs that have killed a disproportionate number of U.S. service

members. In 2001, Tehran helped Washington todismantle the Taliban regime, but in recent years, experts say,

Tehran's strategic interests have aligned with the Taliban's. "From a strategic perspective, the Iranian government

looks at the Talibanas a useful enemy that is undermining the interests of its other enemy, namely the United

States," says Iran expert Mohsen Milani. Experts disagree on the extent of Iranian involvement.

Leadership and Structure

TheTaliban is not a monolith; it has various factions and includes people who join it for varied motives, ranging

from global jihad to local grievances, say experts. Mohammed Omar, a cleric, or mullah, led the group during their

rise to power. Omar is also a military leader, and he lost his right eye fighting the Soviets. From 1996 to 2001, he

ruled Afghanistan with the title "Commander of the Faithful." The Taliban movement remains loyal (PDF), to

varying degrees, to Omar, writes Kenneth Katzman, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs at the Congressional

Research Service. Omar, and many of his top advisers, reportedly are based in the Pakistani city of Quetta, and are

usually referred to as the Quetta Shura Taliban (QST).

U.S. and NATO forces have had success killing or capturing Taliban leaders since the start of the war. Mullah

Omar's chief of security, Naqibullah Khan, was arrested in December 2004, and spokesman Latifullah Hakimi was

apprehended ten months later. A U.S. airstrike in December 2006 killed Mullah Akhtar Usmani, a top commander.

In May 2007, coalition forces killed the leader of the Taliban insurgency in the south, Mullah Dadullah, during an

operation in Helmand Province. And Mullah Ismail, a key Taliban figure in Kunar Province, was apprehended in

April 2008. Even Afghan security forces have successfully targeted top Taliban leaders; in May 2009, Mullah Salam

Noorzai was killed during araid in Helmand Province (LongWarJournal).Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar

(NYT), commander of Taliban's military operations in Afghanistan, was captured in February 2010 in Karachi.

As long as the Taliban believe that they have a backer in Pakistan, even if it is

passive backing to provide safe havens, they are inclined to play the long game with

the United States, which is to wait it out in Afghanistan. --Dan Markey, CFR

But Omar has made appointments toreplenish the QST leadership ranksand numerous Taliban commanders

continue to evade capture. Chief among them, in addition to Omar, are spokesmen Qari Yousef Ahmadi and

Zabiullah Mujahid, as well as leaders of the Haqqani network, Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons Siraj and

Badruddin.The Haqqani network--largely independent but with close ties to the Taliban--has become a major

threat to stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. By some estimates, there are about three thousand Haqqani fighters

(PDF).
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Jalaluddin Haqqani, a mujahadeen commander during the U.S.-backed war against the Soviet Union, served as

minister of tribal affairs during Taliban rule. The Haqqani network remains a central partner for the QST, acting

as a regional platform for the Taliban to project power and influence in southeastern Afghanistan and acting as a

force multiplier for the Taliban, write Don Rassler and Vahid Brown. The group's effectiveness and operational

sophistication is most apparent in Kabul, they argue, saying it is "tied to most, if not all, complex and strategic

suicide attacks there." Siraj Haqqani stated in October 2011 that the group considersOmar as its leader. CFR'sDan

Markeysays the statement was directed at the Afghan audience to show a unified face of the Taliban. "It's to show

that they are genuine, nationalist Afghans looking to liberate their country from occupiers.

Just before he stepped down, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen blamed the Haqqani

network for the September 2011 attacks on the U.S. embassy in Kabul, calling it a "veritable arm" of the Pakistani

ISI. But the U.S. government has shied away from adding the Haqqani network to its list of terrorist organizations.

Experts say such a move would complicate U.S. cooperation with Pakistan, given U.S. accusations of ISI's collusion

with the militant group andscuttle any chances for a peace dealwith the group.

Afghan Public Opinion of the Taliban

Public reaction to the Taliban's rule was not wholly negative. While the rigid social standards fostered resentment,the Taliban cracked down on the corruption that had run rampant through the government for years. The new leaders

also brought stability to Afghanistan, greatly reducing the infighting between warlords that had devastated the

civilian population.

Ten years after being ousted, the Taliban continues to enjoy political and psychological support in the south, experts

say, largely because the international community has not coupled its military gains with equally robust efforts in

development or governance."The impact of the conflict, coupled with chronic poverty, unemployment, and

corruption," has made it easy for the Taliban to manipulate the population, notes a May 2011 survey from ICOS

(PDF). Almost 42 percent of survey respondents in the south said working with the Taliban is right. The ICG

report (PDF)says the "Taliban propaganda has convinced a segment of Afghan public opinion that foreign troops

and the Afghan government are the main threat to their physical security."

The insurgents are also increasingly adopting technology for propaganda; they useTwitter and text messages

(Dawn) to communicate with media, operate a clandestine radio station, "Voice of Shariat," and publish videos.

The Road Ahead

The 2011 UN resolutions split the Taliban and al-Qaeda with regard to the sanctions. In July, fourteen Taliban

figures were removed from the original sanctions list. These measures were to help Afghan and international efforts

to engage in negotiations with the Taliban. There have been some international and Afghan-led efforts since 2003 to

reintegrate low- and mid-level insurgent fighters into communities by offering them incentives and jobs if they

disarm and disavow the Taliban. These efforts have had limited results.

Since 2010, Washington has expanded the endgame in Afghanistan to include a negotiated settlement with top

Taliban leaders who break ties with al-Qaeda and accept the Afghan constitution. But the talks have suffered several

setbacks; most recently in September 2011 when the Afghan government's chief negotiator with the

Taliban,Burhanuddin Rabbani, was assassinated. Plus, they have raised concerns for women's rights in

Afghanistan. "A looming question is whether Afghan women will play a substantive role in a nascent reconciliation

process," says CFR'sGayle Tzemach Lemmon.

Some analysts believe the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011 may have offered an opening to

strike a deal with the Quetta Shura Taliban and its leader Mullah Omar. This is because, says CFR's Stephen

Biddle, "Mullah Omar pledged loyalty to Osama bin Laden, not to al-Qaeda." But Biddle adds it is uncertain if

Omar has really broken with al-Qaeda. Some experts believe the group is riddled with internal divisions on

questions of negotiating with the United States and cooperating with international terrorists, including al-Qaeda.
http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/ctc-haqqani-nexus-evolution-al-qaeda/p25474http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/ctc-haqqani-nexus-evolution-al-qaeda/p25474http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/ctc-haqqani-nexus-evolution-al-qaeda/p25474http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15148488http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15148488http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15148488http://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal-haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan&pagewanted=allhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal-haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan&pagewanted=allhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal-haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan&pagewanted=allhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/blow-afghan-peace-talks/p25970http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/blow-afghan-peace-talks/p25970http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/blow-afghan-peace-talks/p25970http://www.cfr.org/experts/women-afghanistan/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/b16364http://www.cfr.org/experts/women-afghanistan/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/b16364http://www.cfr.org/experts/women-afghanistan/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/b16364http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/afghanistan-iraq-terrorism/stephen-biddle/b2603http://www.cfr.org/experts/women-afghanistan/gayle-tzemach-lemmon/b16364http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/blow-afghan-peace-talks/p25970http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/10/04/all-change-all-the-same-afghan-taliban-10-years-on.htmlhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/207%20The%20Insurgency%20in%20Afghanistans%20Heartland.pdfhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/bin-laden-local-dynamics.pdfhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/world/asia/brutal-haqqani-clan-bedevils-united-states-in-afghanistan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan&pagewanted=allhttp://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.cfr.org/experts/india-pakistan-afghanistan/daniel-markey/b10682http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15148488http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/ctc-haqqani-nexus-evolution-al-qaeda/p25474


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Even before bin Laden's death (PDF), Katzman notes, some U.S. officials argued that the successes produced by

the U.S. military surge in Afghanistan were causing some Taliban leaders to mull the concept of a political

settlement. In August 2011,Mullah Omar acknowledged talks with Washington, although only over prisoner

exchanges.Siraj Haqqani also said (BBC)his group would support any talks that Omar pursued. News reports

revealed that U.S. officialssecretly met with leaders of the Haqqani network (WSJ)in the summer of 2011 to

draw them into talks.

But experts caution against a deal with the Haqqani network, saying the group still has links to al-Qaeda. Pakistan's

support (Atlantic)for the Haqqani network prevents any changes in the group's behavior, says Joshua Foust. The

country's support for the Quetta Shura Taliban also makes it difficult to strike a deal with the group. Markey says:

"As long as the Taliban believe that they have a backer in Pakistan, even if is passive backing to provide safe

havens, they are inclined to play the long game with the United States, which is to wait it out in Afghanistan." In

October, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said it isPakistan, not the Taliban (CNN), that Kabul should pursue

peace talks with, implying Pakistan was in bed with the Taliban leadership.

Greg Bruno andEben Kaplan contributed to this Backgrounder.

Afghanistan 1996-2001

Taliban regime, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Last modified: 2011-06-10 byian macdonald

Keywords:afghanistan|taliban|taleban|islamic emirate|plain (white)|text: arabic (black)|shahada|Links:FOTW homepage|search|random flag|disclaimer and copyright|write us|mirrors

image by Marcus Schmger| 2:3 or 1:2?

Flag adopted 27th October 1997, abolished 2001
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6/24

Introduction

Description

Taliban Flag 1996-1997

Flag with green Shahada, probably mistaken

Unidentified Flag with Coat-of-Arms

Unidentified Afghan flags

Al-Qaeda Flags

Discussion on Islamic Emirate

See also:

Afghanistan 1992-1996 Flag(used 1996-2001 by the Northern Alliance)

Mujahideen and anti-Taliban groups 1980's-2001

The Shahada or Kalimah

Historical Flags(Afghanistan)

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Index of all pages

Introduction

In 1996 the Taliban regime, which had been waging a guerrilla war

throughoutAfghanistansince theRussiansleft, took over the capital, Kabul.

TheUnited Nations Organizationnever ceased to recognize the previous regime (the

so-called 'Northern Alliance' which kept in control of some territory during 1996-

2001) and flew thegreen-white-black tricolour with gold arms.From contributions byIvan Sache,Dave Martucci,Jaume Oll andJan Oskar

Engene, October 1997 - April 1998

Reuters news agency reported on 26 October 1997 that the Taliban government

changed the name fromIslamic State of Afghanistan to theIslamic Emirate of

Afghanistan. According toReuters, the name change was announced by a Taliban-

controlled radio station, "in an order issued by the Emir al-Momineen Mullah

Mohammed Omar", thus formalising the position as head of state in Taliban-ruled

Afghanistan of Mullah Mohammed Omar, leader of the Taliban, who is known

asEmir al-Momineen (Leader of the Faithful).Reuters noted that this was the thirdtime in five years that the official name was changed. Thecommunist regimeused the

nameRepublic of Afghanistan, while the insurgents that overthrew that regime

changed the country's name toIslamic State of Afghanistan.

The Taliban government was only recognised byPakistan,Saudi Arabiaand

theUnited Arab Emirates. Theformer governmentkept the seat at theUnited Nations.

In August 1997 theUnited Stateswas to close the Afghan embassy in Washington,

because of a dispute between a staff member supporting the Taliban government and

another staff member supporting the former government, who clashed on 28 May

1997 over which flag should fly over the embassy. Sources: Taliban change name ofAfghanistan to Emirate,Reuters, 26 October 1997; U.S. Closing Afghan

Embassy,ABC News, 15 August 1997.

Jan Oskar Engene, 28 October 1997

In September 1996 the Taliban took over the capital, Kabul, and soon thereafter most

of Afghanistan. From then until the war that followed the 11th September 2001

attacks againstNew YorkandWashington, thegreen-white-black flagwas only used

in Northern Afghanistan, theUnited Nationsbuilding plus some embassies (e.g. Iran).
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After the Taliban defeat in November-December 2001, both the1992 flagand

the1973 flagand even the earlierApril 1992 flagwere flown by different

factions within the anti-Taliban forces.

Santiago Dotor, 12 December 2001

Description

Smith 1997k(...) said that Afghanistan flied a white flag with theShahadainscribedon itin green. This may have been introduced officially on 27 October 1997 along

with the official name change (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan). We are not even sure

when the change occurred, only that it is being used at border posts and when the emir

visitedPakistan.

From contributions byIvan Sache,Dave Martucci,Jaume Oll andJan Oskar


According to information supplied by Abu Mujahid of the Taliban about the national

flag, the ratio is 1:2 and the Arabic writing on it is blacknot green. This source said

that the one in black is the official flag, and that it was introduced two days before thedate inSmith 1997k, i.e. on October 25th 1997. It was shown at theTaliban's New

York Office website[broken link as of April 2001].

Jaume Oll, October 1997 - April 1998

TheIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan Official Website[broken link as of April

2001] displays a different flag to the oneabove.

Gvido Petersons, 7 November 2000

The outermost third of the writing seems to be the same asabove. Maybe this version

of theshahadahas a differing beginnings, missing "ashhadu" (I testify)?Ole Andersen, 7 November 2000

The word "ashhadu" is not written on either of the imageaboveor on the fluttering

flag on theIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan Official Website[broken link as of April

2001]. The first word, which looks like a large "V" starting at the right end of the flag

is "la," meaning "[there is] no."

Joseph McMillan, 7 November 2000

Almost two weeks ago I saw the Taliban flag in the German TV news (ZDF,Heute-

Journal, 8th August 2001, ca. 21.15 CEST). Unfortunately I had no video recorderready. The flag was a table flag on the desk of the Afghanistan (Taliban) ambassador

to Pakistan. It differed from the [former] image [byJaume Oll] on FOTW in that:

The proportions seemed to be ca. 2:3, not 1:2.

TheShahadawas bigger: the height in the image [byJaume Oll] is about 30%,

I guess it was about 40%.

TheShahadaseemed to me more complex, i.e. I had the impression that there

were more of the 'small' characters (if you know what I mean).

Marcus Schmger, 21 August 2001

During theGerman vexillological meetingat Goslar (13/14 October 2001)Michel

Lupantshowed several flags he had brought from Pakistan. Three of them were

Afghan flags. The first and most interesting (...) was a 'real' Taliban flag.Michel

Lupanthad bought it in Pakistan, so we cannot be absolutely sure that it corresponds

to the flags in real use by the Taliban. However, it is quite similar to the pattern I had

reported earlier from TV news. I took a photo ofMichel Lupant's flag and from that I
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made the above image.

Marcus Schmger, 14 November 2001

The image and description inBaert 2001are similar to the above image (af-1997.gif

byMarcus Schmger), butBaert 2001states that the flag was 1:2. Writings onBaert

2001's image are a bit different, too.

Ivan Sache, 12 April 2002

This is a Caliphat flag/Islamic State (not the Taliban flag but used by them). It is theal-LIWAA, the flag of the Islamic State, the Caliphat, a country where Islamic law is

observed. Every Muslim nation can raise this flag if they become an Islamic state, and

its supposed to be the flag of the worldwide Caliphat for all the Muslims if a new

Emir of the Muslim Ummah (Community) rise again as an international leader for

them. When a Muslim country becomes an Emirate they can raise this flag, the

Taliban regime was an Emirate so they used this flag as the proper Muslim flag for the

Islamic State. The flag has to be white and the Shahada always remains in Black.

Gontzal Royo, 8 April 2003

Taliban Flag 1996-1997

image byAntnio Martins

In 1996 the Taliban regime, which had been waging a guerilla war

throughoutAfghanistansince theRussiansleft, took over the capital, Kabul. The flag

(at least initially) was a plain white banner. The white flag was displayed by the

Taliban's military vehicles, as could be seen in several television images.



Flag with greenShahada, probably mistaken

byJaume Oll 2:3

Smith 1997k(inThe Flag Bulletinno. 177, reprinted inSAVA Newsletters) said that

Afghanistan now flies a white flag with theShahadainscribed on it in green.Smith
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9/24

1997kshowed the new flag as 2:3 but gave no figure.


Engene, October 1997 to April 1998

This flag was used to illustrate November 2001 articles on Afghanistan in the news

magazineDer Spiegel. I wrote an e-mail to them pointing to the error; as an answer

they told me, that (my translation) "from our documentation we can tell, that both

versions (with green or black inscription) have been used. However, it is true, that the

black inscription seems to be used more frequently now".Marcus Schmger, 18 November 2001

It appears to have been used in several works which use the 'authentication' of the

Flag Research Centereditors ofThe Flag Bulletinand hence the same original

sourcefor instance theShipmate 2000chart.

Santiago Dotor, 19 November 2001

Unidentified Flag with Coat-of-Arms

image byMarcus Scmger

During theGerman vexillological meetingat Goslar (13/14 October 2001)Michel

Lupantshowed several flags he had brought from Pakistan. Three of them were

Afghan flags. One of them was a small table flag: white with (presumably) the

Taliban coat-of-arms in the center. I took a photo of the flag and from that I made a

GIF. Any graphic irregularities come from the actual flag (see for instance the sabres).

No idea, what the actual purpose of the flag was, sorry.

Marcus Scmger, 18 February 2002

Almost at the bottom ofthis webpagethere is an image of the Taliban coat-of-arms,

that was also used on flags.

Marcus Scmger, 27 July 2002

On 11 September 2004 at 10:25 PDT,MSNBC Investigates aired an hour long

program on the 11 September 2001 events. On two different film clips, I saw a truck

with a bed full of armed men with guns, and another clip with only about 3 men in it,

and both trucks were flying the flag pretty much asMichel Lupanthas described it.

Hubert Frick, 13 October 2004
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10/24

Unidentified Afghan flags

image by Santiago Dotor

image by Santiago Dotor

As far I know no flag of the emirate of Afghanistan could be seen in the television

images of the [hijacked] Indian plane in Kandahar. But I saw several images with

aplain white flag. I could also see two more flags:

striped horizontally green, white, red

white-red horizontal flag; the line between white and red was serrated,

likeBahrain, butat less [as it appeared] in television divided exactly into

two parts.

Jaume Oll, 2 January 2000

Discussion on Islamic Emirate

Andrew Rogers asked whetherIslamic Emirate was not redundant. There may not be

any non-Islamic emirates in a cultural sense, but that is not the point. When a modern

nation state calls itselfIslamic it means that the Sharia is the law.Pakistanon its

founding was the first such state. RevolutionaryIranand much Islamic

fundamentalism since then have also striven for this ideal. But the Sharia is ill-suited

to modern political and economic organization, so real implementation of the ideal is

almost impossible. Even conservativeSaudi Arabia, guardian of the most holy places,

does not pretend to be anIslamic state in name. An Islamic state today is akin to John

Calvin'sGeneva, a theocratic statepar excellencethere is a big difference betweena theocratic state and one that is culturally Christian or even religiously so.

T. F. Mills, 28 October 1997

Although Emir is a term from the Muslim political world, in theory it is not a religious

designation. In fact, terms like Emir, Sultan, and Malik (king) were first used when

the political power of the Caliphs were on the wane they were meant to serve as a

title of political authority without claiming to supplant the Caliphs' religious authority.
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11/24

This is ironic considering the use that the Taliban is putting it to.

Joshua Fruhlinger, 28 October 1997

Encyclopedia

Dictionary

Taliban

Participant in theCivil war in Afghanistan (1992-2001), theWar in

Afghanistan (2001-present)and theWaziristan War

Taliban flag

Active since September 1994

Ideology Islamic fundamentalismand Pashtun

nationalism

Leaders MullahMohammed Omar

MullahObaidullah Akhund(captured)

Area of

operations

AfghanistanandPakistan[1]

Strength 12,000 (self-claimed)

Originated as Mujahideengroups in theSoviet war in

Afghanistan
http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkEncyclopediahttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkEncyclopediahttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkDictionaryhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkDictionaryhttp://www.citizendia.org/Civil_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Civil_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Civil_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Obaidullah_Akhundhttp://www.citizendia.org/Obaidullah_Akhundhttp://www.citizendia.org/Obaidullah_Akhundhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/http://www.citizendia.org/http://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Obaidullah_Akhundhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)http://www.citizendia.org/Civil_war_in_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkDictionaryhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#lkEncyclopedia


12/24

Alliesal-Qaeda

Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin

Islamic Emirate of Waziristan

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

Opponents Iran

Afghanistan

Northern Alliance

ISAF(led byNATO)

Operation Enduring Freedom Allies

The Taliban(Pashto: libn, alsoanglicisedas Taleban) are aSunniIslamistmovement[2]

that ruled most

ofAfghanistanfrom 1996 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by a cooperative military effort

between theNorthern AllianceandNATOcountries. Committedfundamentalistinsurgents, often described as

"Taliban" in the media, originating[3]

in theFrontier Tribal AreasofPakistan, are currently engaged in a

protractedguerrilla waragainst thecurrent governmentof Afghanistan, alliedNATOforces participating inOperation

Enduring Freedom, and theNATO-ledInternational Security Assistance Force.[4]

The Taliban movement was headed byMullahMohammed Omar. Beneath Mullah Omar were "a mixture of former

small-unit military commanders andMadrasahteachers"

[5]

and then a rank and file most of whom had studiedinIslamic religious schoolsinPakistan. The overwhelming majority of Taliban movement were ethnic Pashtuns from

southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan, along with a smaller number of volunteers from elsewhere, for

exampleEuropeorChina. The Taliban received valuable training, supplies and arms from the Pakistani government,

particularly theInter-Services Intelligence(ISI)[23], and many recruits fromMadrasahsforAfghan refugeesin

Pakistan, primarily ones established by theJamiat Ulema-e-IslamJUI.

Although in control of Afghanistan's capital (Kabul) and much or most of the country for five years, the Taliban

regime, or "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," gaineddiplomatic recognitionfrom only three states: Pakistan,Saudi

Arabia, and theUnited Arab Emirates. Human rights abuses denied it United Nations recognition and most of the

world's states, including Iran, India, Turkey, Russia, USA and most Central Asian republics opposed the Taliban and

aided its rival (Afghan Northern Alliance).

While in power, the Taliban implemented the "strictest interpretation ofSharia lawever seen in theMuslim

world,"[6]

and became notorious internationally for theirmistreatment of women.[7]

Women were forced to wear

theburqain public.[8]

They were allowed neither to work nor to be educated after the age of eight ,[7]

and until then

were permitted only to study theQur'an.[7]

Women seeking an education were forced to attend underground schools,

where they and their teachers risked execution if caught.[7]

They were not allowed to be treated by male doctors

unless accompanied by a male family member or husbandchaperone, which led to illnesses remaining untreated.

They faced public flogging in the street,[9]

and both men and women faced public execution for violations of the

Taliban's laws.[10][11]

Contents

1 Etymology

2 Origin

3 Taliban ideology and its application

o 3.1 Governance

o 3.2 Consistency

o 3.3 Criticism of ideology

o 3.4 Explanation of ideology

4 Life under the Taliban regime

o 4.1 Treatment of women

o 4.2 Prohibitions on culture

o 4.3 Ethnic massacres and persecution
http://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Hezb-e-Islami_Gulbuddinhttp://www.citizendia.org/Hezb-e-Islami_Gulbuddinhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Waziristanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Waziristanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Movement_of_Uzbekistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Movement_of_Uzbekistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Iranhttp://www.citizendia.org/Iranhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedom_-_Afghanistan:_Allieshttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedom_-_Afghanistan:_Allieshttp://www.citizendia.org/Pashto_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Pashto_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Pashto_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Anglicisationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Anglicisationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Anglicisationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Sunni_Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Sunni_Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Sunni_Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-1http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-1http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-1http://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/Fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/Fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/Insurgencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Insurgencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Insurgencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-2http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-2http://www.citizendia.org/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areashttp://www.citizendia.org/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areashttp://www.citizendia.org/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areashttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Guerrilla_warfarehttp://www.citizendia.org/Guerrilla_warfarehttp://www.citizendia.org/Guerrilla_warfarehttp://www.citizendia.org/Politics_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Politics_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Politics_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-3http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-3http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-3http://www.citizendia.org/Mullahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mullahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-4http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-4http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-4http://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Europehttp://www.citizendia.org/Europehttp://www.citizendia.org/Europehttp://www.citizendia.org/Chinahttp://www.citizendia.org/Chinahttp://www.citizendia.org/Chinahttp://www.citizendia.org/Inter-Services_Intelligencehttp://www.citizendia.org/Inter-Services_Intelligencehttp://www.citizendia.org/Inter-Services_Intelligencehttp://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=43728http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=43728http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=43728http://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghan_refugeeshttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghan_refugeeshttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghan_refugeeshttp://www.citizendia.org/Jamiat_Ulema-e-Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Jamiat_Ulema-e-Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Jamiat_Ulema-e-Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Kabulhttp://www.citizendia.org/Kabulhttp://www.citizendia.org/Kabulhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Diplomatic_recognitionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Diplomatic_recognitionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Diplomatic_recognitionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://www.citizendia.org/Shariahttp://www.citizendia.org/Shariahttp://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-5http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-5http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-5http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban_treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban_treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban_treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Burqahttp://www.citizendia.org/Burqahttp://www.citizendia.org/Burqahttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Gohari-7http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Gohari-7http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Qur'anhttp://www.citizendia.org/Qur'anhttp://www.citizendia.org/Qur'anhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Chaperonehttp://www.citizendia.org/Chaperonehttp://www.citizendia.org/Chaperonehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-8http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-8http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-8http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-physicians-9http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-physicians-9http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-physicians-9http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Etymologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Etymologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Originhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Originhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_ideology_and_its_applicationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_ideology_and_its_applicationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Governancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Governancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Consistencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Consistencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Criticism_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Criticism_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Explanation_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Explanation_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Life_under_the_Taliban_regimehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Life_under_the_Taliban_regimehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prohibitions_on_culturehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prohibitions_on_culturehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Ethnic_massacres_and_persecutionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Ethnic_massacres_and_persecutionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Ethnic_massacres_and_persecutionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prohibitions_on_culturehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Life_under_the_Taliban_regimehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Explanation_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Criticism_of_ideologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Consistencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Governancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_ideology_and_its_applicationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Originhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Etymologyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-physicians-9http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-physicians-9http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-8http://www.citizendia.org/Chaperonehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Qur'anhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Gohari-7http://www.citizendia.org/Burqahttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Maley-6http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban_treatment_of_womenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-5http://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Muslim_worldhttp://www.citizendia.org/Shariahttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Arab_Emirateshttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/Saudi_Arabiahttp://www.citizendia.org/Diplomatic_recognitionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Kabulhttp://www.citizendia.org/Jamiat_Ulema-e-Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghan_refugeeshttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=43728http://www.citizendia.org/Inter-Services_Intelligencehttp://www.citizendia.org/Chinahttp://www.citizendia.org/Europehttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-4http://www.citizendia.org/Madrasahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mohammed_Omarhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mullahhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-3http://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedomhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/Politics_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Guerrilla_warfarehttp://www.citizendia.org/Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Federally_Administered_Tribal_Areashttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-2http://www.citizendia.org/Insurgencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Fundamentalismhttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-1http://www.citizendia.org/Sunni_Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Sunni_Islamhttp://www.citizendia.org/Anglicisationhttp://www.citizendia.org/Pashto_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Operation_Enduring_Freedom_-_Afghanistan:_Allieshttp://www.citizendia.org/NATOhttp://www.citizendia.org/International_Security_Assistance_Forcehttp://www.citizendia.org/United_Islamic_Front_for_the_Salvation_of_Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Afghanistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Iranhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Movement_of_Uzbekistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Islamic_Emirate_of_Waziristanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Hezb-e-Islami_Gulbuddinhttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaeda


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o 4.4 Economy

o 4.5 Conscription

5 War with the Northern Alliance

6 International relations

o 6.1 Relations with the United Nations and aid agencies

o 6.2 Relationship with Osama bin Laden

o 6.3 Taliban in Pakistan

7 Buddhas of Bamiyan

8 Opium

9 U.S.-led invasion and displacement of the Taliban

o 9.1 Prelude to invasion

o 9.2 American attack

10 Resurgence of Taliban

o 10.1 Human rights violations

o 10.2 Timeline

10.2.1 2006

10.2.2 2007

10.2.3 2008

11 References

12 Further reading

13 See also

14 External links

Etymology

The word Taliban is from theArabic libn, " students", loaned fromArabic, lib, the Arabic plural

being ullb. Since becoming aloanwordin English,Taliban besides a plural noun referring to the group is also

used as a singular noun referring to an individual. For example, John Walker Lindhhas been referred to as "an

American Taliban" besides the more correct "an American Talib".[12]

Origin

The Taliban initially had enormous goodwill from Afghans weary of the corruption, brutality and incessant fighting

ofMujahideenwarlords. Two contrasting narratives of the beginnings of the Taliban[13]

are that the rape and murder

of boys and girls from a family traveling to Kandahar or a similar outrage by Mujahideen bandits sparked Mullah

Omar and his students to vow to rid Afghanistan of these criminals. [14]

The other is that the Pakistan-based truck

shipping mafia known as the "Afghanistan Transit Trade" and their allies in the Pakistan government, trained, armed

and financed the Taliban to clear the southern road across Afghanistan to the Central Asian Republics of extortionate

bandit gangs.[15]

Though there is no evidence that theCIAdirectly supported the Taliban orAl Qaeda, some basis for military support

of the Taliban was provided when, in the early 1980s, the CIA and the ISI (Pakistan's Interservices Intelligence

Agency) provided arms to Afghans resisting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the ISI assisted the process of

gathering radical Muslims from around the world to fight against the Soviets.Osama Bin Ladenwas one of the key

players in organizing training camps for the foreign Muslim volunteers. The U. S. poured funds and arms into

Afghanistan and "by 1987, 65,000 tons of U. S. -made weapons and ammunition a year were entering the war".[16]

The Taliban were based in theHelmand,KandaharandUruzganregions, and were overwhelmingly ethnic Pashtuns

and predominantlyDurraniPashtuns. They received training and arms from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia as well as other

Middle Eastern countries who had been recruited by the U. S. to thwart the Soviet invasion of this region.
http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Economyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Economyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Conscriptionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Conscriptionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#War_with_the_Northern_Alliancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#War_with_the_Northern_Alliancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#International_relationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#International_relationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relations_with_the_United_Nations_and_aid_agencieshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relations_with_the_United_Nations_and_aid_agencieshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relationship_with_Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relationship_with_Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_in_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_in_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Buddhas_of_Bamiyanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Buddhas_of_Bamiyanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Opiumhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Opiumhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#U.S.-led_invasion_and_displacement_of_the_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#U.S.-led_invasion_and_displacement_of_the_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prelude_to_invasionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prelude_to_invasionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#American_attackhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#American_attackhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Resurgence_of_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Resurgence_of_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Human_rights_violationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Human_rights_violationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Timelinehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Timelinehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2006http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2006http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2007http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2007http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2008http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2008http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Referenceshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Referenceshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Further_readinghttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Further_readinghttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#See_alsohttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#See_alsohttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#External_linkshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#External_linkshttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Loanwordhttp://www.citizendia.org/Loanwordhttp://www.citizendia.org/Loanwordhttp://www.citizendia.org/John_Walker_Lindhhttp://www.citizendia.org/John_Walker_Lindhhttp://www.citizendia.org/John_Walker_Lindhhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Arabic_Dictionary-11http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Arabic_Dictionary-11http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Arabic_Dictionary-11http://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-12http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-12http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-13http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-13http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-13http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-14http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-14http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-14http://www.citizendia.org/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-15http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-15http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-15http://www.citizendia.org/Helmand_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Helmand_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Helmand_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Kandahar_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Kandahar_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Kandahar_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Or%C5%ABzg%C4%81n_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Or%C5%ABzg%C4%81n_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Or%C5%ABzg%C4%81n_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Durranihttp://www.citizendia.org/Durranihttp://www.citizendia.org/Durranihttp://www.citizendia.org/Durranihttp://www.citizendia.org/Or%C5%ABzg%C4%81n_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Kandahar_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Helmand_Provincehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-15http://www.citizendia.org/Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Al-Qaedahttp://www.citizendia.org/Central_Intelligence_Agencyhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-14http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-13http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-12http://www.citizendia.org/Mujahideenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#cite_note-Arabic_Dictionary-11http://www.citizendia.org/John_Walker_Lindhhttp://www.citizendia.org/Loanwordhttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Arabic_languagehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#External_linkshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#See_alsohttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Further_readinghttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Referenceshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2008http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2007http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#2006http://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Timelinehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Human_rights_violationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Resurgence_of_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#American_attackhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Prelude_to_invasionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#U.S.-led_invasion_and_displacement_of_the_Talibanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Opiumhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Buddhas_of_Bamiyanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Taliban_in_Pakistanhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relationship_with_Osama_bin_Ladenhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Relations_with_the_United_Nations_and_aid_agencieshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#International_relationshttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#War_with_the_Northern_Alliancehttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Conscriptionhttp://www.citizendia.org/Taliban#Economy


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The first major military activity of the Taliban was in October-November 1994 when they marched from Maiwandin

southern Afghanistan to captureKandahar Cityand the surrounding provinces, losing only a few dozen

men.[17]

Starting with the capture of a border crossing and a huge ammunition dump from warlord Gulbuddin

Hekmatyar, a few weeks later they freed "a convoy trying to open a trade route from Pakistan to Central Asia" from

another group of warlords attempting to extort money.[18]

In the next three months this hitherto "unknown force" took

control of twelve of Afghanistan's 34provinces, with Mujahideen warlords often surrendering to them without a fight

and the "heavily armed population" giving up their weapons.[19]

By September 1996 they captured Afghanistan's

capital,Kabul.

Taliban ideology and its application

The Taliban's extremely strict and "anti-modern" ideology has been described as an "innovative form

ofshariaco

the taliban in afghanistan

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