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The '''Taliban''' is a Sunni [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which effectively ruled most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 when the United States assisted them until 2001, when United States forces invaded Afganistan and overthrew them. The Taliban allowed [[al-Qaeda]] (a militant [[Sunni]] Islamist organization) use of Afghan territory to plot, train, and conduct terrorist activities across sovereign international borders.  The Taliban retains control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continues to co-ordinate attacks against the Afghan government and supporting coalition forces.

The '''Taliban''' is a Sunni [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which effectively ruled most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 until 2001, when [[United States]] forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew them. The Taliban allowed [[al-Qaeda]] (a militant [[Sunni]] Islamist organization) use of Afghan territory to plot, train, and conduct terrorist activities across sovereign international borders.  The Taliban retains control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continues to co-ordinate attacks against the Afghan government and supporting coalition forces. Many of the Taliban leaders and foot-solders are now believed to be based in [[Pakistan]] where they can launch attacks into Afghanistan or train for attacks elsewhere<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/terror-commande.html</ref>.   

The word "taliban" means "students".

The word "taliban" means "students".

The Taliban's rule was characterized by a fanatical intolerance for other religions and the fact that women could not be educated. Additionally, the Taliban banned all forms of television, imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics. The Taliban were also strongly against [[drugs]]; since their overthrow [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer. {{fact}}

The Taliban's rule was characterized by a fanatical intolerance for other religions and the fact that women could not be educated. Additionally, the Taliban banned all forms of television, imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics. The Taliban were also strongly against [[drugs]]; since their overthrow [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2814861.stm</ref><ref>http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/76421.html</ref>