What exactly is Taliban? They talk about it in the news everyday but what exactly is it???

Answer 1

The Taliban were the previous rulers of Afghanistan. Rulers is used loosely as they provided no real government or leadership to the country. The Taliban never had full control of the country as the Northern Alliance continued to operate against them. It was the Northern Alliance sweeping across the north of Afghanistan that precipitated the fall of the Taliban. A democratic government was then established and continues to operate in the country. The Taliban that still operate in Afghanistan are looking to regain control of the country and re-establish their version of Islamic sharia. Please see below for greater detail.

Afghanistan - Taliban Era

There was no functioning central government in Afghanistan, following over two decades of civil war and political instability. The Pashtun-dominated ultra-conservative Islamic movement known as the Taliban controled approximately 95 percent of the country, including the capital of Kabul, and all of the largest urban areas, except Faizabad. A Taliban edict in 1997 renamed the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, with Taliban leader Mullah Omar as Head of State and Commander of the Faithful. There was a six-member ruling council in Kabul, but ultimate authority for Taliban rule rested in Mullah Omar, head of the inner Shura (Council), located in the southern city of Kandahar.

Former President Burhanuddin Rabbani claimed to be the head of the Government, controlled most of the country's embassies abroad, and retained Afghanistan's United Nations seat after the U.N. General Assembly again deferred a decision on Afghanistan's credentials during the September General Assembly session. Rabbani and his military commander, Ahmed Shah Masood, both Tajiks, also maintain control of some largely ethnic Tajik territory in the country's northeast.

Masood's forces were within rocket range of Taliban-held Kabul until late July 1999, but since then the Taliban had pushed them back, capturing large areas. In 1999 the Taliban summer offensive pushed Masood's forces out of the Shomali plain, north of Kabul. Towards the middle of June 2000, the Taliban resumed its offensive, and captured the northeastern city of Taloqan. Commander Masood and commanders under the United Front for Afghanistan (UFA), also known as the Northern Alliance, continue to hold the Panjshir valley and Faizabad. The U.N. Secretary General's Personal Representative to Afghanistan Fransesc Vendrell engaged in extensive discussions with various Afghan parties and interested nations throughout 2000, but there was little visible progress in ending the conflict. A group of representatives from the six nations bordering Afghanistan plus the United States and Russia met several times during 2000 to explore ways to end the conflict.

A number of provincial administrations maintained limited functions, but civil institutions were rudimentary. There was no countrywide recognized constitution, rule of law, or independent judiciary. The Taliban remained the country's primary military force.

Agriculture, including high levels of opium poppy cultivation, wasthe mainstay of the economy. For the second year in a row, in 2000 the country was the largest opium producer in the world. The agriculture sector suffered a major setback in 2000 due to the country's worst drought in 30 years. Experts estimated that the drought may affect more than half of the population, with 3-4 million severely affected. The drought affected all areas of the country, causing an increase in internal displacement, loss of livestock, and loss of livelihood. The crop loss in some areas was estimated to be 50 percent. Approximately 80 percent of the livestock of the Kuchi nomads reportedly perished, and the Argun reservoir which supplied water to 500,000 farmers and to Kandahar ran dry, as did 8 rivers in the region. In addition to the drought, the agricultural sector continued to languish because of a lack of resources and the prolonged civil war, which had impeded reconstruction of irrigation systems, repair of market roads, and replanting of orchards in some areas.

The presence of millions of landmines and unexploded ordnance throughout the country has restricted areas for cultivation and slowed the return of refugees who are needed to rebuild the economy.

Trade was mainly in opium, fruits, minerals, and gems, as well as goods smuggled to Pakistan. There are rival currencies, both very inflated. Formal economic activity remained minimal in most of the country, especially rural areas, and was inhibited by recurrent fighting and by local commanders' roadblocks in non-Taliban controlled areas. The country also was dependent on international assistance. Per capita income, based on World Bank figures, was about $280 per year. Reconstruction continued in Herat, Kandahar, and Ghazni, areas that were under firm Taliban control. Areas outside of Taliban control suffered from brigandage.

On December 19, 2000, the UN Security Council imposed additional sanctions against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement (which controls around 95% of the country), including an arms embargo and a ban on the sale of chemicals used in making heroin. These sanctions (Resolution 1333), which took effect in one month if the Taliban did not comply, were aimed at pressuring Afghanistan to turn over Osama bin Laden, suspected in various terrorist attacks, including the August 1998 US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. These latest sanctions were in addition to sanctions (Resolution 1267) imposed on Afghanistan in November 1999, which included a freeze on Taliban assets and a ban on international flights by Afghanistan's national airline, Ariana. Afghanistan's government reacted sharply to the new sanctions, ordering a boycott of US and Russian goods, and pulling out of UN-mediated peace talks aimed at ending the country's civil war.

Answer 2

Taliban originated in Pakistan. In Pakistani language the word means "Trainee". As the members were students of Madrasa(Islamic mosque run religious schools) they were named so. They dreamed of ruling the world with the laws of their Quran a common dream of majority of the mohammedans. Fortunately they ruled only Afganistan by their gory rules. They were supporters of Osama Bin Laden. By the By in 1980s it was USA who helped Talibans through Pakistan with weapons and aids to fight Russian invaders and made them stronger and stronger untill they started to fight against US. Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar has married each others daughters to strengthen their bond. Both are in Pakistan at present.

Answer 3

They are a religious group founded in Pakistan that moved into Afghanistan after the Soviets left. The believe that all countries should be ruled by Islamic Theocracies (a government ruled by the religious leaders) that is governed by a very strict and miltant interpretation of the Qaran.

Answer 4

The Taliban is under no circumstances harsher than the followers of the bible. study up on the crusaders, the witch-hunts in Europe and usa, study Scandinavian historic previous - you will discover that the main heinous crimes against humanity have been dedicated by skill of proud followers of Jesus Christ. i'm no longer being a smart@$$, it somewhat is all nicely-documented historic previous. there is greater blood in the palms of Christians than the Taliban, Nazis, and Romans mixed.

Answer 5

They were the ruling political party in Afghanistan. The US went to war with them for harboring and aiding Al Qaeda.

Answer 6

Read George Orwells 1984 to find out.
Everyone should read this book!
It is short and very relevant in this day and age.
I was also quoted at the end of fahrenheit 9/11.

Answer 7

It was the ruling group of Afghanistan before the US invaded the country. They also sheltered Osama.

Answer 8

They are a right wing, militant, Islamic group who took over Afganistan, implemented their version of Koranic law and supported, among other things, Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda.

Answer 9

it is a group of extremists..
most are of muslim beliefs.. but they take it to the extreme

other than that i'm not really sure myself

Answer 10

It is an enemy. It is also fodder for liberals to embrace!