The Taliban is famous for its insurgencies in Afghanistan against the west-backed government. Here’s the full scoop on the organization, its history, and plans for the country.
Who exactly are the Taliban?
The word Taliban means ‘students’ in Pashto. The organization has been pursuing an insurgency against the country’s western-backed government in Kabul. They first emerged in the early 1990s in northern Pakistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
The Pashtun movement was first portrayed in religious seminaries and was paid by Saudi Arabia, preaching a handline form of Sunni Islam. The organization promised to restore peace, provide security and enforce the harsh version of Islamic law, ‘Sharia’ once they come to power.
Today, some of the key players in the organization are Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the founders, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Mullah Yaqoob, the son of a prominent commander and founder respectively. They receive funding from taxes, supporters, and the trade of opium and other drugs.
History of Taliban in Afghanistan
The group emerged as a fraction fighting a civil war and soon, gained control over the majority of the country by 1996. Since then, they have accusations of enforcing brutal laws, public executions for those convicted of adultery and murder, amputations for those caught for theft, etc. Additionally, men must grow their beards and women must wear burka covering their entire bodies.
However, the group fell after a U.S led military coalition following the 9/11 attack on NYC’s World Trade Center and sheltering of Osama Bin Laden. Despite losing power, they continued guerrilla warfare against the US-led forces and western-backed government in Afghanistan. Over 2,448 American military personnel and 457 British military personnel lost their lives on Afghan soil.
The Taliban also entered peace talks with the US in 2018 and struck a deal. According to it, the US was to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in February 2020. However, the Taliban continued taking the lives of both civilians and members of the Afghan security force.
What are the organization’s plans for Afghanistan?
The fundamentalist organization wished to fully restore Sharia in the country. Those who haven’t been able to leave the country will have to find a way to adapt. During their last rule, women could not work, girls couldn’t go to school or get an education. They also banned entertainment such as music, cinema, and television. Additionally, women had to cover themselves and be accompanied by a man outside their house.
All in all, the organization plans to end mix-gender education. According to their recent talks, they assured the West that women would enjoy equal rights in accordance with Islam, including the opportunity to work and study. But, their actions like removing women from their jobs in banks tell otherwise.