Taliban

The Taliban is a group in Afghanistan.

The name means "students."

Long ago, they ruled most of the land. They made very strict rules. These rules were not fair to many people.

They did not let women work. They also did not let girls go to school. This made life hard for many families.

Later, other groups took over the country. The Taliban fought for a long time. In 2021, they took control again.

Now, the Taliban rules all of Afghanistan. Many other lands do not recognize them.

The Taliban is a group in Afghanistan. The name means "students."

They first appeared in 1994 during a civil war. Many of their early leaders were from the Pashtun areas.

The Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. They used very strict religious laws. These laws changed life for many people. They did not let women work or go to school. They also banned most music. The group destroyed old statues, like the Buddhas of Bamiyan.

In 2001, an invasion led by the United States began. This caused the Taliban government to fall. Many members fled to Pakistan. The group then fought a long war for twenty years.

In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Kabul again.

They now rule all of Afghanistan. They have brought back many old, strict rules. This includes rules that stop girls from getting an education. Most other countries do not recognize the Taliban as a real government.

The Taliban is a political and militant group in Afghanistan. Their official name is the Islamic Movement of Taliban. They also call their state the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The word "Taliban" comes from the Pashto language. It means "students."

This group follows a very strict set of religious and national ideas. They want to run the country based on these rules. This matters because their leadership changes how life works for millions of people.

To understand how they work, we must look at their rules. The Taliban uses a strict version of religious law called Sharia. This law controls many parts of daily life. For example, they have rules about what women can wear. They also have rules about where women can travel.

Under their rule, many things that were normal before are now banned. This includes most types of music. They also have rules about what people can say in public. These rules change how people interact with each other every day.

The history of the group began in the mid-1990s. They emerged in 1994 during the Second Afghan Civil War. This was a time of fighting between different groups in Afghanistan. Many of the early leaders were warlords from Pashtun areas. These areas are in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

A leader named Mullah Omar helped the movement spread. They grew quickly and took control of the capital city, Kabul, in 1996. This was the start of their first time ruling the nation.

There are many important dates and facts about their time in power. From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban ruled about 90% of Afghanistan. During this time, they destroyed old cultural items. One famous example is the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.

In October 2001, an invasion led by the United States began. This caused their government to collapse by December 2001. Many members then fled to the neighboring country of Pakistan. They spent twenty years fighting to return to power.

Today, the Taliban is back in control of the whole country. They recaptured Kabul in August 2021 after a large military offensive.

This happened as other military forces were leaving the country. Now, they have brought back many of their old, strict policies. This includes banning girls from going to school. Most countries in the world do not recognize them as a real government. Only Russia has granted them diplomatic recognition as of 2025.

The Taliban is a political and militant organization in Afghanistan. Its official name is the Islamic Movement of Taliban. The group also uses the name Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for its state. The word "Taliban" comes from the Pashto language. It means "students," which is the plural of "Talib."

The group follows an ideology based on Pashtun nationalism and the Deobandi movement of Islamic fundamentalism. This matters because the group's control fundamentally changes the laws and social structures of the nation.

The Taliban governs through a strict interpretation of Sharia law. Sharia is a system of religious law that regulates many aspects of daily life. Under this system, the government enforces specific rules regarding behavior, clothing, and social roles. For example, the Taliban requires women to wear head-to-toe coverings, such as the burqa. They also prohibit women from traveling without male guardians. Furthermore, the group has banned female speech and most forms of education for girls.

The roots of the movement lie in the religious schools of Kandahar. Many of its original leaders were trained during the Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1979 to 1992. During that war, the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. This led to fighting by various Mujahideen factions. Some of these leaders later became part of the Taliban. The movement emerged in 1994 during the Second Afghan Civil War. This war began in 1992 after the fall of a Soviet-backed regime.

In 1994, the Taliban grew as a prominent faction in the civil war. The movement consisted largely of warlords from the Pashtun areas in eastern and southern Afghanistan. Under the leadership of Mullah Omar, the group spread throughout much of the country. They eventually seized the capital city, Kabul, in 1996. This established the First Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. This government was opposed by the Northern Alliance, which held international recognition.

From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban ruled approximately 90% of Afghanistan. During this period, the group was criticized for many actions. They were condemned for massacres against civilians and the persecution of ethnic minorities. They also destroyed significant cultural monuments. One notable example was the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan. The group also denied UN food supplies to starving civilians. These actions led to widespread international condemnation.

The Taliban's first period of rule ended in late 2001. Following the September 11 attacks, an American-led invasion began in October 2001. This invasion was linked to the Taliban's ally, al-Qaeda. The Taliban government collapsed by December 2001. Many members fled to the neighboring country of Pakistan. For the next twenty years, the group fought an insurgency. They fought against the US-backed Islamic Republic and NATO-led forces.

In 2021, the Taliban launched a major military offensive. This occurred as coalition forces were departing the country. In August 2021, the group recaptured Kabul and overthrew the Islamic Republic. This reestablished the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Since their return, the country has faced major economic changes. The Afghanistan government budget lost 80% of its funding. This has led to widespread food insecurity.

The current status of the Taliban remains complex in global politics. Many countries designate the Taliban as a terrorist organization. Most of the international community does not recognize the Taliban government. As of 2025, only Russia has granted the government diplomatic recognition. The group continues to implement the strict policies from its earlier rule. This includes the total ban on education for girls and restrictions on women's employment. These decisions continue to shape the lives of all Afghans.