The Taliban Rise to Power
By May Lee
The Taliban regime is a menace to Afghanistan, as it governs in oppression and maltreatment. Ostracized from the international community, it continues to face worldwide scrutiny. Although they arose with the aim of enforcing their fundamentalist views, they have far deviated from their ideological aim. With their everyday roadside bombings and violent tactics, they have proved to be a formidable militant force. The Taliban background, including its rise to power and history of its founding leader, is crucial to the understanding of the Taliban's intentions. (Mcnamara)
The Taliban ascent to power occurred amidst Afghanistan’s recovery from the decade-long war against the Soviet Union. The Taliban presented itself as a reformist body- ferocious, principled, and religious. Taliban means “students” in Pashto, and the founders were refugees who had attended Pakistani Muslim schools, called madrassas. Other members originated from the mujahedeen, a group of battle-scarred Islamic fighters who had fought against the Soviets in the 1980s (Johns). Fatigued from the dissension amongst the mujahedeen forces, the Afghans welcomed the emergence of the Taliban. Therefore, they were able to capture more than two-thirds of Afghanistan from the Mujahedeen warriors, in just two years’ time. Their overall success came from the unpopular status of the Mujahedeen (Who).
Their dominance over the nation was confirmed with the capture of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Kabul was especially significant because of its strategic location. Their reputation as an effective fighting force earned them the assistance of the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). Thus, with the ISI as their ally, they were provided with their needed assets in the form of weapons and money. With the weapons in their favor, they were able to conquer the city of Kandahar and its capital in September of 1996. (Who)
Not much is known regarding the background and motives of the “reclusive, one-eyed leader” of the Taliban, leader Mullah Omar. Reports and rumors have it that after attending a few Islamic schools, he had settled as a Muslim cleric. After the soviet military incursions into the country, he gained a position as the commander of an anti-Soviet guerilla. During the war, he lost his right eye to shrapnel; it was here where he earned his significant title as the one-eyed leader of the Taliban. Finally, in 1996, he was given the status of Amir ul-Moemineen, or “Commander of the Faithful”, by the new members of the Taliban group. He is noted as the chief organizer and wields all influence and power. As the figurehead of the shura, he leads a council of 22 leaders from different regional groups in the country; most are close alliances and associates of him. (Background)
The once-ragtag group of warriors that had assembled in 1994 has developed into one of Afghanistan’s most feared groups (Johns). They were established to purportedly eradicate all post-war lawlessness in the war-torn country (Mcnamara). As a Sunni Muslim fundamentalist group, they aimed to institute a society that revolves around the Islamic law. As for the reclusive leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, very little is known. However, one thing is clear: his political vision, in which he strives to create his own version of an Islamic nation (Background). Therefore, it is critical to have a general knowledge on the background of the Taliban and its leader to fully understand the Taliban's intentions.
By May Lee
The Taliban regime is a menace to Afghanistan, as it governs in oppression and maltreatment. Ostracized from the international community, it continues to face worldwide scrutiny. Although they arose with the aim of enforcing their fundamentalist views, they have far deviated from their ideological aim. With their everyday roadside bombings and violent tactics, they have proved to be a formidable militant force. The Taliban background, including its rise to power and history of its founding leader, is crucial to the understanding of the Taliban's intentions. (Mcnamara)
The Taliban ascent to power occurred amidst Afghanistan’s recovery from the decade-long war against the Soviet Union. The Taliban presented itself as a reformist body- ferocious, principled, and religious. Taliban means “students” in Pashto, and the founders were refugees who had attended Pakistani Muslim schools, called madrassas. Other members originated from the mujahedeen, a group of battle-scarred Islamic fighters who had fought against the Soviets in the 1980s (Johns). Fatigued from the dissension amongst the mujahedeen forces, the Afghans welcomed the emergence of the Taliban. Therefore, they were able to capture more than two-thirds of Afghanistan from the Mujahedeen warriors, in just two years’ time. Their overall success came from the unpopular status of the Mujahedeen (Who).
Their dominance over the nation was confirmed with the capture of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Kabul was especially significant because of its strategic location. Their reputation as an effective fighting force earned them the assistance of the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). Thus, with the ISI as their ally, they were provided with their needed assets in the form of weapons and money. With the weapons in their favor, they were able to conquer the city of Kandahar and its capital in September of 1996. (Who)
Not much is known regarding the background and motives of the “reclusive, one-eyed leader” of the Taliban, leader Mullah Omar. Reports and rumors have it that after attending a few Islamic schools, he had settled as a Muslim cleric. After the soviet military incursions into the country, he gained a position as the commander of an anti-Soviet guerilla. During the war, he lost his right eye to shrapnel; it was here where he earned his significant title as the one-eyed leader of the Taliban. Finally, in 1996, he was given the status of Amir ul-Moemineen, or “Commander of the Faithful”, by the new members of the Taliban group. He is noted as the chief organizer and wields all influence and power. As the figurehead of the shura, he leads a council of 22 leaders from different regional groups in the country; most are close alliances and associates of him. (Background)
The once-ragtag group of warriors that had assembled in 1994 has developed into one of Afghanistan’s most feared groups (Johns). They were established to purportedly eradicate all post-war lawlessness in the war-torn country (Mcnamara). As a Sunni Muslim fundamentalist group, they aimed to institute a society that revolves around the Islamic law. As for the reclusive leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, very little is known. However, one thing is clear: his political vision, in which he strives to create his own version of an Islamic nation (Background). Therefore, it is critical to have a general knowledge on the background of the Taliban and its leader to fully understand the Taliban's intentions.