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Three decades ago Afghanistan was a stable country but then in 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan
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The first Soviet Troops invaded parachuted into Kabul on December 27, 1979 to assist Babrak Karmal who was the president. The Soviet troops stayed in the country for 9 more years fighting that cost roughly 15000 lives.
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He had nearly 12000 followers ands rolling up the warlords to the north and east. His promise was restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life. HIs movement was genuinely popular in the country.
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The Taliban had taken control of Afghanistan imposing strict laws. The Taliban also provided a haven for Al Qaeda.
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The Taliban grew out of a student movement dedicated to purifying the country.
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After their defeat the Taliban continued to wage a guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
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The Taliban also spilled over into Pakistan raising concerns about their stability.
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Hamid Karzai was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban. He took office hoping for secure peace for Afghanistan. He was elected to a five year term as president in 2004.
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After the attack on the World Trade Center, George W Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr BIn Laden. When refused the US joined forces with rebel groups.
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General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit for the success had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008. Mr. Gates brought in General Stanley.