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Orgins of the Taliban
The Mujahideen, a U.S. supported, anti-commuist group, overthrew the soviets when they removed Najaibullah from the Soviet-backed government. The Taliban, a former part of the Mujahideen, broke off from the group because they believed that the Mujahideen was too moderate and did not impelment Islamic law as harshly as they believed it should be . The Taliban, who reperesent the southern Pashtun speaking people, become one of the many tribal groups vying for power. -
Civil War in Afghanistan
The Taliban help start a three year civil war from 1993 to 1996, when they became unsatified with the Northern Alliance governement. During the war, there was not a formal government in Afghanistan. The Taliban was one of the many groups who were trying to obtain authority. Because of the lack of government, lawlessness was rampant. -
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Afghansitan civil war
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Taliban's first victory
In 1994, the Taliban seized the town of Kandahar and began their fight for power by continuing to take over more cities in Southern Afghanistan. -
Taliban starts a military campaign
The Taliban moves to the North, closer to the capital, Kabul. They continue to capture more cities and begin to bomb and attack Kabul. -
Taliban takes the capital
After months of bombing, the Taliban take over the capital, Kabul,and are in control of Afghanistan. They immediately implement harsh Islamic law under the leadership of Mullah Omar. -
Mullah Omar offers Osama bin Laden refuge
Osama bin Laden is offered refuge when he feld from Sudan by the Taliban becasue they believed they would gain more from his presence and assistance than they would lose by staying internationaly isolated. -
Taliban fails to capture Mazar-i-Sharif
Mazar-i-Sharif is a sacred city for the Shiite people and it is the site of Mohammed Ali's grave. After shutting down the girl's school, they failed to capture the city and lost hundreds of men. A year later, however, the Taliban are successful in capturing the city. -
U.S. lauches missiles at a possible Osama bin Laden base
The U.S. lauched the missiles in retaliation for Osama bin Laden's bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. -
USS Cole in Yemen is bombed
After the bombing, which killed 17 sailers, Washingtion warns that if Osama bin Laden was behind the bombing, Afghanistan would be attacked. -
UN imposes an arms enbargo
The UN imposes an arms enbargo and tightens sactions against Afghanistan. It also shut down Taliban offices in other countries and forbid Taliban leaders from leaving Afghanistan. -
Taliban blows up Buddhist statues
In the cliffs above Bamien, the Taliban blew up two Buddhist statues. They ignored the international outcry against the distruction of the 2,000 year old statues. -
U.S. begins bombing Afghanistan
The U.S. strategically bombs Taliban sites. In response, Osama bin Laden makes a statement urging Muslims to wage a holy war agaisnt America.
