THE HISTORY OF TALIBAN AND AFGHANISTAN
( FROM PAST TILL PRESENT)
INTRODUCTION:
The Taliban is primarily "Pashtuns." It is an Islamic fundamentalist group. Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996, which ended in 2001. When US-led occupation toppled the regime for letting Al-Qaida group and Osama Bin Laden live in the state as refugees. The Taliban regrouped in Pakistan under the leadership of Mullah Muhammad Omar, who led an insurgency against the western government residing in Kabul. Negotiations were done with the Taliban, and international forces decided to conclude combat operations in 2014 and draw out by 2016.
ASCENT OF TALIBAN:
Taliban was formed by a group called Mujahedeen in the early 1990s. They resisted Soviet occupation in Afghanistan as they were concerned about Islam, getting faded in the streets of Afghanistan. They were later joined by younger Pashtun tribe’s men, possessing the same thought. Pashtun is a popular group in Afghanistan, so it was easy for the Taliban to accomplish their goals.
Taliban entered Kandahar in November 1994 to eradicate all major crimes, including corruption in that area, and then eventually seized Kabul as they found president Burhanuddin Rabbani as a corrupt man. According to a study, it was estimated that the Taliban regime-controlled 90 percent of the state of Afghanistan before its overthrow in 2001.
During the rule of the Taliban, all orders from Allah, completely described in the holy book (Al-Quran), we're assured to be acted upon. Everyone needed to follow Islamic laws; otherwise, they would have to bear the consequences. In 1998, UN Security Council imposed sanctions on the government for harboring Al-Qaida.
AUTHORITY AND ASSISTANCE:
Mullah Omar led the movement-Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. He was called the commander of faithful. He assured the US of not harming any territory while spreading the true meaning of Islam in Afghanistan. But Osama Bin Laden did not keep the words and orchestrated bombings on the embassies of the US. It was the moment when a real tension was created between two groups.
Ethnic minorities living in Afghanistan were against the Afghan Taliban movement and assisted US forces in removing the Taliban from the state. Some members of the movement, along with the leader Mullah Omar, moved to Pakistan and settled there. It is said that Pakistan also aided the Taliban by giving them space to live in western areas. Pakistan did so to counter the influence of India on Afghanistan.
HOW DID THE TALIBAN MAKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY?
The Taliban group’s annual income from 2011 onwards was estimated to be $400 m. which significantly increased to $1.5 billion. The area controlled by the Taliban was enriched by the opium poppy plant, which proved advantageous for the Taliban to have good growth in their economy. 10% cultivation tax was collected from farmers. Taxes were also collected from the laboratories which were dealing with opium. The estimated amount of money from opium poppy plants was $100m to $400m.
Caption
The US tried its best to remove all the sources of opium where the Taliban are getting an advantage, but they were failed to destroy them as this kind of production is really cheap and easy to rebuild.
Their control was expanding over the years, and they had control over 70% of Afghanistan by 2018. They made the Afghan government pay taxes if they ever visit areas under their control. It was reported that the Taliban were earning $2m by billing electricity consumers in several parts of the country. Taliban acquired a great amount of money by illicit mining drugs. Foreign funding is another reason for the fast growth of the Taliban over the state of Afghanistan. This funding is accused of being provided by Pakistan as well as many gulf countries.
Caption
UPRISING OF TALIBAN AGAIN IN AFGHANISTAN:
The US from years was trying to defeat the Taliban; however, they had maintained peace in Afghanistan for several years, but now in the present year, they had got control over the state, and US president Joe Biden also ensured to remove all the US forces from Afghanistan as well as their citizens living there. This statement gave relief to the Taliban, and now they are happy to know that their goal would be achieved now, for which they were striving for several years.
"WE HAVE WON THW WAR, AMERICA HAS LOST" (Taliban).
Taliban say that they are ready for peace as well as Jihad. They also say that Jihad is an act of worship and worship is something that you do not get tired of however much of it you do. According to Sharia, they do not want to fight more, but they want someone who led Afghanistan. Many talks are spreading in the air about the Taliban by different people. Still, the Taliban have steadfast on their stance that they will not suppress the basic right of men and women, but they will only force them to live according to Islamic teachings. Peace will be maintained if Afghanis act what the Taliban says.
CURRENT SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN:
The entry of the Taliban has affected Afghanistan in the following ways:
- Anti-Taliban protests have been taking place in different areas in Afghanistan. These protests are influencing the business of the state negatively.
- Many women do not feel safe in their own country.
- Due to the Taliban’s abrupt entry into the state of Afghanistan, the IMF has denied giving any more funds to the state, which is badly affecting the county's economy, which is already down.
- Western countries are evacuating Afghans; hence unemployment is elevating, and its residents are suffering.
- According to a report, 12 people have already been killed at Kabul Airport.
- Although the Taliban are claiming that they will provide no harm to anyone, their only goal is to spread the true teachings of Islam. Still, according to reports or the current state of Afghanistan, analysts say that there is a chance of war again.
- Taliban are controlling many places there, which is an alarm to disturb the peace in the country.
- As the military forces of Afghanistan are not that strong, so many people think that the Taliban will take over Afghanistan in just a few months.
- Moving back to US forces has also left Afghanistan alone, and it cannot tackle with Taliban solely.
⮚ Taliban have a goal of spreading true teachings of Islam and eradicating western culture from their country, but they are continuing their mission using force instead of power. History is itself evidence that how Afghanistan got independence and independence solely means peace. And if Afghans are still striving for peace, then they still have not gotten freedom.
There are some more links given below as well:
paidforarticle/Taliban history
You must be logged in to post a comment.