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The '''Taliban''' (literally, "students") are a fanatically intolerant [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which exercised rule over most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 until 2001, when [[United States]] forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew them.<ref> Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely said, "We took down the Taliban in the fall of 2001, in 34 days with 100 men." [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/NATION/250209854/1001&template=nextpage] </ref>  

The '''Taliban''' (literally, "students") are an [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which exercised rule over most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 until 2001, when [[United States]] forces invaded Afghanistan and removed them from their center of power .<ref> Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely said, "We took down the Taliban in the fall of 2001, in 34 days with 100 men." [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/NATION/250209854/1001&template=nextpage] </ref>  

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 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 fighters were educated in "madrassahs" (religious schools) in Pakistan, and many of them have Pakistani nationality. Education in a "madrassah" requires unquestioning subservience to the will of Allah and the immediate readiness to engage in a religious war ("Jihad") if required by an appropriate religious authority.  

The Taliban fighters were educated in wahhabist "madrassahs" (religious schools) in Pakistan, which explains the strong connection with neighboring Pakistani provinces. Education in a Wahhabist "madrassah" emphasises the theological role of religious war ("Jihad") , to be waged defensively in the case of invasion into "muslim land", or offensively at the call of the Caliph.

The Taliban had close links to separatist terrorists in Chechnya, and this resulted in two bloody wars since 1994, as the [[Russian]] government fought to suppress the terrorists. Chechen terrorists also fought for the Taliban against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The Chechens also had links to [[Al Qaeda]].<ref>http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370</ref>  

The Taliban had close links to separatist insurgents in the Russian Federation province of  Chechnya, and this resulted in two bloody wars since 1994, as the [[Russian]] government fought to suppress the rebellion. Chechen fighters returned the favor to their Taliban allies by aiding them in their current struggle against the NATO occupation. Anecdotally, it has been noted that the Chechnyans are valued by the Taliban military commanders, as they have extensive training and experience in the operation of Soviet heavy weapons against high value targets. .<ref>http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370</ref>  

The Taliban retain control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continue 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 Taliban retain control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continue to co-ordinate attacks against the Afghan national government and supporting NATO forces. Many of the Taliban leaders and foot-solders are now believed to be based in [[Pakistan]] where they can launch attacks across the border into Afghanistan or train for attacks elsewhere<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/terror-commande.html</ref>.   

Taliban rule was characterized by a fanatical intolerance for other religions, and women could not be educated or attend most hospitals. They required all men to grow beards and banned television along with all forms of imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics.  

Taliban rule was characterized by a strict adherence to Islamic law;women could not be educated or attend most hospitals, They required all men to grow beards and banned television along with all forms of imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics.  

According to the ''International Socialist Review'', the Taliban started as the one of the armed Afghan factions funded by the [[CIA]] during the Afghan conflict against Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.isreview.org/issues/20/ahmed_afghanistan.shtml</ref>

According to the ''International Socialist Review'', the Taliban started as the one of the armed Afghan factions known collectively as the "Mujahadeen" ( A term that has passed into popular use, specifically referring to the Arabic for Holy Warrior") funded by the [[CIA]] during the Afghan conflict against the former Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.isreview.org/issues/20/ahmed_afghanistan.shtml</ref>The Taliban connection to the Mujahadeen weakened following the Soviet withdrawal and Afghan civil war. The majority of the Taliban leadership were born during the brutal Soviet occupation, and educated at Saudi funded Wahhabist madrassas. The majority of Mujadaeen appear to have taken on the jihadist ideology as a unifying tool against the Soviets - nothing more. The Taliban however took on the jihadist ideology as a way of life, and subsequently fought a war with the remnants of the communist government and the warlords to gain control of Afghanistan by late 1996. The Taliban rule was positively received by the majority of the population as despite the brutal application of Sharia law the rule brought the first stable government to the region for 40 years.  

 

It is however well-known that the USA had backed the battle-hardened "Mujahedin" against the former Soviet Union. The majority of what is today known as the Taliban were infants when the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan ended.

According to the BBC:

According to the BBC: