Was the Taliban orginally Pakistani or Afghani? Who started it and made up most of it?

Question

An Afghani girl in my class said that the Taliban was spearheaded by Pakistanis who went into Afghanistan to fight against the Russians. Were the people who began the Taliban movement ethnically Pakistani to begin with or not? Is it more complicated than that? I'm thinking it was a mix of Afghanis and Pakistanis since the border is really close and people were always crossing it. There's a mix heritage on the border and many Pashtuns live on the western side of Pakistan so how can we really say it was purely Pakistani or purely Afghani. Also, many people were ethnically from Afghanistan but migrated to Pakistan and lived there for awhile so eventually they were considered Pakistani. I'm really confused, and I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me!! Thanks a lot! (Please real answers only no jokes)

Answer 1

The Taliban movement began when Afghanistan was in crisis. The origin of the Taliban Movement lies in the Jihad against the Soviet Union and in the refugee camps in Pakistan. Most of the fighters in the movement are too young to have actively fought against the Russians. Rather, they grew up in the refugee camps outside Afghanistan. The nucleus for the Taliban have been Afghan Talibs. They captured Afghan capital, Kabul, in 1996, and now reportedly control all but the Panjshir valley, and other smaller areas in northern Afghanistan. Mullah Muhammad Omar is the first leader of the Taliban. No one knows much about him, he has only been photographed once, and there is some doubt about if he even exists. In the case of Afghanistan, the Taliban appeal to the most backwards instincts and traditions of layers of poor tribes people and villagers who form the backbone of the militia. Although the Taliban enforces harsh rules on Afghan people, they are supported throughout most of the country.

Answer 2

Ok ...as you guessed - the answer to this one is complex.

Lets begin with the background - the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan transformed it into a battleground with the Soviets and the Communist govt of Afghanistan on one side and the Mujahideen (loose translation : religious fighters) - mostly Afghan tribesmen on the other, armed and financed by the US and Saudi Arabia through Pakistan.

Now - when the Soviets retreat from Afghanistan, the Mujahideens start fighting each other for control of Afghanistan - with the major warlords dividing the country up into their own spheres of influence. By this time - the US and the Saudis have left the game and only Pakistan is the interested party there.

Strategically, Afghanistan is the "strategic depth" for Pakistan - a place to retreat to in event of war. To understand that - look at the map. To establish control - the Interservices Intelligence (ISI) and the Army developed the Taliban from the Afghans in the refugee camps and the Pashtuns tribesmen (from both the Pakistani and the Afghanistani tribes).

If that seems weird to you, remember that these regions (North West Frontier Province, Waziristan, Swat) have never been brought under the control of the central government of Pakistan or even of the British, who preceded them.

Answer 3

The Taliban developed out of the AAfgan resistance to the Soviets in the 80's. After forcing them to leave, the Taliban took power in Afganistan. The North Pakistanis are closely related, but it was an Afgan political group with roots in fundamentalist Islam.

Answer 4

It is a mix. It was started in Afghanistan to fight the Soviets and actually received backing from the USA.

Answer 5

afghan