Who are the Taliban, and how did they come to power?

Twenty years ago a coalition of US-led military forces ousted the Taliban from power in Afghanistan. But after a recent month military offensive, the Islamic group is regaining power.

This happens as the United States was preparing to withdraw troops after 20 years of war.

Under a agreed agreement, full withdrawal would be fulfilled on September 11th.

The U.S. entered talks with the Taliban as early as 2018 to detect a transition and peace phase after their departure.

The talks were postponed forward in 2020, when the parties reached an agreement in Doha, Qatar.

In the deal, the U.S. pledged to withdraw the bodies. The Taliban pledged not to attack them, to prevent the re-activation of the al-Qaeda group, or other extremist militants, as well as to continue talks with other political sides on leading the country in peace.

The following year the Taliban continued to attack Afghan security and civilian forces in the country's suburbs.

The situation escalated in recent months as they took Kabul on Sunday.

Coming to Power

The word thaleban comes from “talib” which in Afghan means “ant”

The Genesis of this fundamentalist group is based on religious movements promoted by Saudi Arabia in northern Pakistan.

That happened in the early 1990s following the Soviet forces' back from the war in Afghanistan, writes Euronews.al.

The Saudi influence in the area was seen in geostrategic interest, given the fact that Afghans are of Sunni's belief and bordering Iran led by the Shiite.

The group gained power by promising Afghan populations living in northern Pakistan the restoration of security, and the establishment of a cure of Islamic legal system with the tow gave them the opportunity to run the country.

From southeastern Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly exerted influence throughout the country.

In September 1995 they seized several provinces at the border with Iran, and within the year of the capital, Kabul.

They brought down the regime of President Burhanuddin Rabban, one of the founders of the Mujahedin army that freed Afghanistan from Soviet invasion.

Within three years the Taliban extended control to almost all regions of the country at the time of about 20 million inhabitants, an estimated 39 million currently.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan were the only three states that later recognised their power, Pakistan attracted recognition when the Taliban threatened riots in Afghan areas north of their territory.

Most welcomed the Taliban after they initially succeeded in fighting corruption, punishing lawbreakers and ensuring safety on trade routes.

But this success resulted from the system of strict rules and penalties of witchcraft, such as the public execution of killers and the unmemorial” or the cutting of hands of thieves.

The Taliban later banned television, music, and cinema, as well as the schooling of girls over 12.

According to their rules, boys should necessarily wear a beard as girls cover themselves completely and not turn out to be unaccompanied.

Connection to Al-Qaeda

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack in the United States, where thousands of people lost their lives, the world moved attention to Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Taliban were accused of providing shelter and support to the activities of the al-Qaeda terrorist group and their leader Osama bin Laden.

In October 2001, the US established a military coalition that two months later began intervention in Afghanistan and brought down the Taliban, who were then headed by Mullah Omar.

Omar and Bin Laden left the country, along with other spiritual leaders, who settled in Pakistan even though the official Islamabad repeatedly denied the claims.

For about 10 years, the Taliban staged attacks by American forces in various areas of Afghanistan.

In May 2011, the US reported that it had executed in a military operation Bin Laden in Abbottabad about 150km north of Islamabad.

Omar died in August 2015 in a Pakistani hospital, while a year later, his successor, Mullah Mansur, was killed by Americans in a fearful operation. Since then, the group is headed by Mawlai Akundzada.

Five years later, the group seems stronger than before as it took control in most regions of Afghanistan in a few months.

According to NATO data, they have about 85 thousand troops.