What or who exactly is Taliban?

New Delhi: The Taliban emerged as the strongest faction of the Muslim Afghan Mujahedeen militants to seize Kabul in 1996. While they created some stability after nearly two decades of conflict, their tough interpretation of Islamic law has attracted widespread criticism.

Since 1996, the Taliban have given asylum to Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the US attacks. Now the ruling council of clerics have asked him to leave the country.

The UN does not recognize the Taliban, which controls 95 per cent of the country. Their main opposition is the Northern Alliance, who are currently battling for control of strategically important districts in the north.

Afghanistan was invaded by the Russians in 1979. Ten years later Afghan fighters sent them packing with the help of US and the Mujahedeen. But the peace still remained elusive, and the country fell into disarray. It was then the Taliban came to the fore. It emerged as a movement in the seminaries of Pakistan.

What emerged as a student movement in 1994 from the madrassas with active support of Pakistan and ISI, Taliban became a strong force within a few months. Under the leadership of Mullah Omar it overthrew Burhannudin Rabbani's government and captured Kabul. By the end of 1996 Taliban were controlling 27 provinces out of 36 in Afghanistan, 85 per cent of the country.

For the next five years Taliban controlled Afghanistan under strict Islamic laws even demolishing the 1500 years old Bamiyan Buddha statues. But then the reversals started. Taliban refused to extradite al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden after the attacks on the World Trade Centre. US troops attacked Taliban and by the end of the year 2001, Taliban rule was over.

But, things have changed since then. Coalition forces have failed to capture either Mulla Umar or Osama bin Laden. The Taliban are no longer on the run and have teamed up with al-Qaeda once again.

It has returned to the south and east of Afghanistan since their defeat at the hands of the US led coalition nearly two years ago. The seminaries in Pakistan have ones again become recruiting centres for Taliban.

With new bases spread from Zabul and Kunar in Eastern to Paktia and Paktika, in the southern provinces Taliban are now active in 15 per cent of the country.

Even though their numbers are limited, they are waging a guerrilla war, both against Karzai led Afghan government and American led forces and other foreigners as well. Following their ouster in late 2001, the group has now re-emerged as a non-state terrorist entity and have attacked and killed NGO workers, Afghan civilians, government officials, and policemen.

But what is worrying some is the support the Taliban is receiving in the Pushtu dominated areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Taliban Suicide bombers have struck more than two dozen times in Afghanistan since the provincial and national elections of September 2005.

More than 90 people have been killed in these incidents including civilians, foreign diplomats, coalition troops and those like Kutty and Satya who were silent workers involved in the re construction of the war torn state.

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