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Taliban

About Taliban

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Who are Taliban?

A fundamentalist Islamic force, the Taliban, entered Afghanistan capital Kabul on August 15, 2021 after swiftly seizing much of the country in the past 10 days following the withdrawal of US troops. Here is a quick rundown of Taliban history, its ideology, and other facts.
 

Who are Taliban?

The Taliban was founded in Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan by Mullah Mohammad Omar, a mujahideen commander in 1994. It drew members from mujahideen fighters that helped push the Soviets out of the country in 1989.
 
The group’s name, which means “students” in the Pashto language, is a reference to the founding members having studied under Mullah Omar.
 
With about 50 followers in 1994, the faction fought for control of Afghanistan during the post-Soviet-era civil war.
 
In a span of two years, the Taliban captured Kandahar and took control of Kabul in 1996 and swiftly imposed strict Islamic rules. It ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until being toppled by US forces in 2001 following September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
 
Taliban sheltered Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in America, and refused to hand over Laden to US after which, American military forces invaded Kabul through air strikes and toppled Mullah Omar’s government.
 
The group’s founder and other Taliban leaders retreated to remote places while they planned campaigns to regain power in Afghanistan.
 

What is Taliban Ideology?

When the Taliban was in power from 1996-2001, it imposed a strict version of 'sharia' law in Afghanistan.
 
The group introduced or supported punishments such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers, and amputations for those found guilty of theft. Men were required to grow beards and women had to wear the all-covering burqa.
 
The Taliban also banned television, music, and cinema, and disapproved of girls aged 10 and over going to school. Taliban brutal and repressive rule stripped women of virtually all rights.
 

International recognition of Taliban

Only a few countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates recognised the legitimacy of the Taliban government during its rule from 1996-2001.
 
The quest for diplomatic and political recognition has been a constant in the Taliban’s struggle from the beginning through the Doha agreement of February 29, 2020, and beyond. It was made clear to the Taliban negotiators during Doha peace talks that the desired recognition could only come if they disassociated themselves completely from al-Qaeda.
 
While the United States and the United Nations imposed sanctions on the Taliban, and the majority of countries have shown little signs that it will recognise the group diplomatically.
 
Meanwhile, China and Russia are already moving to build ties with the Taliban and have hosted Taliban officials even before the US military completed its troop withdrawal. 
 

Resurgence of Taliban

On February 29, 2020, The US and the Taliban signed an "agreement for bringing peace" to Afghanistan after more than 18 years of conflict, under the Trump administration.
 
Under the agreement, the US and Nato allies agreed to withdraw all troops within 14 months if the Taliban upheld the deal. Taliban also agreed not to allow al-Qaeda or any other extremist group to operate in the areas they control.
 
Honouring the deal, the US and other international forces started withdrawing, in June by which time the Taliban already controlled large parts of the country. But after August 6, the advancement took another turn and the group swept across Afghanistan, taking control of all major cities.
 
President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and the Afghan forces were bundled in lightning speed, shocking much of the international community. As President Ghani fled the country, US embassy staff were rescued by helicopters out of their heavily fortified compound. 
 
The US drew flak for its decision to withdraw forces from the war-ravaged country, leaving the citizens in a catastrophic situation but US President Joe Biden said he stands squarely behind the decision.

Latest Updates on Taliban

The administration said most of the after-action reviews, which were transmitted privately to Congress on Thursday, were highly classified and would not be released publicly

Updated On: 07 Apr 2023 | 8:31 AM IST

"We will not replace our female workforce with men," she added

Updated On: 06 Apr 2023 | 8:28 AM IST

Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during its previous stint in power, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in 2021

Updated On: 05 Apr 2023 | 6:52 AM IST

Taliban terrorists opened fire at a vehicle ferrying security forces in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least four policemen, including an officer, and wounding six others

Updated On: 30 Mar 2023 | 3:22 PM IST

The Taliban has once again urged the United Nations (UN) to remove the names of its members from the blacklist

Updated On: 27 Mar 2023 | 12:46 PM IST

Where activities cannot be continued in line with the EU's principled approach, the EU support to those activities will be reconsidered, the statement said

Updated On: 22 Mar 2023 | 12:00 PM IST

The denial of women's rights to education by the Taliban de facto authorities in Afghanistan has no justification on any grounds

Updated On: 22 Mar 2023 | 9:46 AM IST

Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement for women and girls

Updated On: 20 Mar 2023 | 7:21 AM IST

Afghanistan has sought help from the United Nations (UN) amid rising concerns about drought in the war-stricken country, asking the UN to provide storage facilities for wheat

Updated On: 19 Mar 2023 | 10:14 AM IST

Several journalists expressed concerns regarding the lack of information access and economic difficulties on National Journalists' Day, according to TOLOnews

Updated On: 19 Mar 2023 | 8:51 AM IST

Over three million girls, once enrolled in schools have been denied their right to education since the Taliban takeover, and their future in Afghanistan seems bleak according to a report

Updated On: 17 Mar 2023 | 10:15 AM IST

Taliban's policy on women's education and work will impact negatively Afghanistan's relations with the international community, former Minister of Finance, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal said

Updated On: 17 Mar 2023 | 8:26 AM IST

A letter issued by the Institute of Diplomacy to informing officials about the ITEC programme also referred to a note verbale from the Indian embassy in Kabul on the course

Updated On: 16 Mar 2023 | 10:20 PM IST

The four-day virtual course that starts Tuesday is called "Immersing with Indian Thoughts," and will be taught by the Indian Institute of Management in the southern city of Kozhikode

Updated On: 14 Mar 2023 | 5:15 PM IST

India plans to hold a four-day training programme for Afghan Foreign Ministry officials in Kabul beginning Tuesday

Updated On: 14 Mar 2023 | 2:57 PM IST

"We worked hard and learned a lot; we have goals and ambitions, and it is vital that our schools be opened in order to accomplish our educational dreams," said Husna, a student in the eleventh grade

Updated On: 12 Mar 2023 | 7:41 AM IST

A bomb killed a Taliban-appointed provincial governor and two others in Afghanistan's Mazar-e- Sharif on Thursday, a Taliban police spokesman said

Updated On: 09 Mar 2023 | 2:36 PM IST

The Taliban government adheres to an austere interpretation of Islam and has imposed severe restrictions on women's lives that the United Nations (UN) called "gender-based apartheid"

Updated On: 06 Mar 2023 | 10:35 PM IST

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers reopened a key border crossing with Pakistan on Thursday, allowing thousands of trucks carrying desperately needed food and other items to creep forward for the first time in days, officials said.

Updated On: 24 Feb 2023 | 12:00 AM IST

Mr Gall paints a vivid picture of Massoud as a guerilla leader - someone who is precise and methodical in his approach and whose decision making is clinical and rarely driven by impulse or sentiment

Updated On: 22 Feb 2023 | 12:51 AM IST