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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

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Speaking at the contract signing event, Mullah Baradar stated that the country's security is strong and that the Islamic Emirate is willing to work with foreign investors

Updated On: 01 Nov 2022 | 6:04 PM IST

The UN Security Council has called on the Taliban to swiftly reverse their policies and practices which are currently restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls

Updated On: 25 May 2022 | 10:38 AM IST

The Taliban have ordered female Afghan TV presenters and other women on screen to cover their faces while on air, BBC reported.

Updated On: 20 May 2022 | 2:49 PM IST

Rights activists said the AIHRC that was abolished by the Taliban was not perfect but it mattered enormously to have a place to demand justice

Updated On: 20 May 2022 | 9:25 AM IST

The Taliban-led government has ordered female staff members of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to wear the hijab.

Updated On: 18 May 2022 | 1:04 PM IST

India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO (RATS SCO) on October 28 for a period of one year

Updated On: 17 May 2022 | 1:45 AM IST

According to the Reporters Without Borders, at least 50 media workers were arrested since the Taliban took over the country in August last year until February 2022

Updated On: 16 May 2022 | 12:22 PM IST

Islamabad claims that its security forces are being targeted from across the border in Afghanistan and it was only taking action against Pakistan Taliban

Updated On: 13 May 2022 | 2:11 PM IST

G7 called on the Taliban to lift the restrictions that it imposed on women and girls

Updated On: 13 May 2022 | 10:06 AM IST

The Norwegian-drafted statement would also call for a reversal of policies that restrict the rights of women and girls

Updated On: 13 May 2022 | 9:00 AM IST

Muslim Khan and Mehmood Khan were recently transferred from a military detention facility to the custody of the Afghan Taliban in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt, said sources

Updated On: 13 May 2022 | 7:44 AM IST

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August last year, the US has frozen more than $9 billion of assets of the central bank, thus undermining the banking system of the war-torn country

Updated On: 11 May 2022 | 10:40 AM IST

The award-winning journalist was killed in July last while covering clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city

Updated On: 11 May 2022 | 12:42 AM IST

According to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), at least 900,000 Afghans have lost their jobs since the Taliban took control last August.

Updated On: 10 May 2022 | 8:46 AM IST

Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has expressed fear for women and girls in Afghanistan after the Taliban issued a decree making the hijab compulsory for women in Afghanistan.

Updated On: 10 May 2022 | 7:47 AM IST

Taliban on Saturday issued a decree ordering the Afghan women to wear the all-covering burqa in public places, adding that if violated a male member of the family will be imprisoned for three days

Updated On: 08 May 2022 | 8:53 AM IST

The Taliban on Saturday ruled women must cover their faces in public

Updated On: 08 May 2022 | 8:00 AM IST

Afghanistan's Taliban leadership ordered all Afghan women to wear the all-covering burqa in public, the ministry of vice and virtue said Saturday.

Updated On: 07 May 2022 | 5:04 PM IST

The report informs that international humanitarian aid to the tune of USD 1.88 billion pledged since mid-2021 has not been distributed efficiently and more than half of all Afghans go hungry

Updated On: 05 May 2022 | 2:38 PM IST

The ban comes at a time when the country suffers from a devastating humanitarian crisis, with an acute shortage of food and other essential supplies.

Updated On: 05 May 2022 | 7:34 AM IST