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Afghanistan

Afghanistan . Where. Located in central Asia. Population of 30 million people. Islamic Republic. Very diverse terrain. Tribal allegiances stronger than government allegiances. Wracked by 3 decades of constant war. . The Taliban. Pashto for “Students”

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Afghanistan

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  1. Afghanistan

  2. Where • Located in central Asia. • Population of 30 million people. • Islamic Republic. • Very diverse terrain. • Tribal allegiances stronger than government allegiances. • Wracked by 3 decades of constant war.

  3. The Taliban • Pashto for “Students” • Started off as insurgents fighting the Soviet Union in the 80’s. • Financially backed by U.S. and trained by Pakistan. • Following the withdrawal of Soviet troops a power struggle broke out between the mujahedeen fighters. • In 1991 Mullah Omar began the Taliban movement with 50 madrasa students in Kandahar. • Madrasa students from Pakistan began to flood to Omar’s cause bring his numbers to 15,000 men by 1994.

  4. Ahmad Shah Massoud • Fought successfully against the Soviets. • Attempts to unit Afghanistan with elections. • Goes to the Taliban to ask if they wish to participate. • Taliban deny Massoud and begin shelling the capital of Kabul in 1995. • Massoud defeated the Taliban in numerous battles. • The Pakistanis and Saudis began supplying the Taliban. • By 1996 Massoud is forced to retreat from Kabul into the Hindu Kush mountains.

  5. Taliban Victory • September 27, 1996 the Taliban established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. • Massoud and his former enemy Abdul Rashid Dostum create the Northern Alliance. • They launched operations against the Taliban, but Dostum was defeated and went into exile in 1998. • Massoud attempted to get support from powerful Afghans outside of the country and also looked to the US, and other western nations for assistance.

  6. Al-Qaeda and Assassination • Al-Qaeda, under the leadership of Bin Laden, made Afghanistan their new home in 1998. • Pashtunwali - a Pashtun tradition of asylum and protection meant that the Taliban would protect Bin Laden. • Al-Qaeda began training Taliban members and plan their attacks on western powers. • Massoud began to unravel plans on the 9/11 attacks and on September 9th, 2001 at 48 years old Massoud was assassinated by two Al-Qaeda operatives.

  7. 9/11 • 19 Hijackers were selected and received extensive training in Afghanistan and abroad. • After committing their attacks the U.S. made specific demands of the Taliban. • Deliver to the U.S. all of the leaders of Al-Qaeda • Release all foreign nationals that have been unjustly imprisoned • Protect foreign journalists, diplomats, and aid workers • Close immediately every terrorist training camp • Hand over every terrorist and their supporters to appropriate authorities • Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps for inspection

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