A new foe emerged during the next few years. It gets perceived as the Taliban.
The Islamist Mujahideen leader gets deposed by the Taliban in 1996. What exactly are the Taliban?
Taliban is a Pashto word that signifies learner. Mullah Omar was the Taliban group’s commander at first.
He gathered 50 pupils to form this group. Taliban were also supporters of Pashtun nationalism. Men were required to have a beard under the Taliban’s leadership. Women had to wear burqas to keep their bodies covered.
Women were only permitted to leave the house if escorted by a male relative. As a result of the Taliban’s conviction in Pashtun ideology, non-Pashtun ethnicities became victims of ethnic cleansing.
Thousands of Muslims have been slaughtered. Christians are being persecuted.
Terrorizing Hindus and assassinating Presidents.
Hindus are given badges to distinguish themselves from Muslims. Buddha sculptures played a significant role in Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. The Taliban were able to destroy them. They also assassinated former President Najibullah.
After witnessing all of this, people and governments from all around the world have condemned the Taliban.
They weren’t afraid to express their dissatisfaction. The Taliban, however, was recognized as a legal government by three countries at the time.
However, the Northern Alliance lost this battle in 2001. Ahmad Shah Masoud is also assassinated. The 9/11 attacks in the United States were carried out by the terrorist group Al Qaeda only two days after they occurred. An attack that altered the course of history.
Al Qaeda’s leader Osama bin Laden, a Saudi terrorist, was the commander of Al Qaeda at the time.
Providing him with a haven in their land. Osama bin Laden writes a letter to the United States in which he claims that the 9/11 attacks were retaliation for what the United States was doing in Somalia, Libya, and Afghanistan.
He justifies his actions by claiming that America was conducting war crimes in those nations against Muslims. As a result, they exacted vengeance on America by carrying out the 9/11 assaults.
How does Afghan power matter for Pakistanis?
For western nations that tend to influence the Taliban government, there is a hope that Pakistan would act as a mediator. Pakistan shares a unique bond with the Taliban. It shares a border that spreads over 2570 km.
It shares several ethnic, cultural, and religious connections.
For capitals lining up to rekindle their bond with Islamabad, they may have mixed feelings.
Western powers didn’t find Pakistan as a firm ally against jihadist terrorism. It’s why western nation feels that the Taliban is getting supported by Pakistan, which the latter refuses.
Main concerns of Pakistanis. Pakistan’s support for the Taliban doesn’t imply that it’s relaxed over Afghans taking over Kabul territories.
Pakistan takes an interest, ensuring that the new Kabul government falls over Al Qaeda.
Pakistan has concerns about the refugee crisis. Pakistan has over three million Afghan refugees. With its declining economy, the nation can’t support more refugees.
Moazzam Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s high commissioner told the BBC Today that the nation reached its limit where they can’t admit any other refugee. It needs to talk over the issues and work on suppressing the evaluability.