Who was involved in this conflict?
• The United Front- an alliance
created by Ahmad Shah Massoud,
whose forces helped in removing
the soviet troops from Afghanistan
• Taliban- a terrorist group that was
led by Muhammad Omar
Ahmad shah Massoud
Muhammad
OmarTaliban members
Who was involved in this conflict?
• Pakistan- the country provided
troops to Taliban to fight against
the United Front
• Al-Qaeda- this terrorist group also
provided troops to fight against the United
Front
Pakistani troops Troops from al Qaeda
How did this conflict begin?
• The forces of Ahmad Shah Massoud defeated the Soviet troops and
removed them from Afghanistan. They now controlled the northern states
of Afghanistan
• Taliban took control of the southern provinces of Afghanistan in 1994
• In late 1994, the forces trying to gain power in Kabul were defeated by those
of Massoud
How did this conflict begin?
• Taliban opposed the views of Massoud who wanted democratic elections
• They started shelling (firing) in Kabul but were defeated by the forces of
Massoud
How did the conflict begin?
• Taliban sought military support from Pakistan and al Qaeda
• On September 26, 1996, they attacked Kabul again (where power was
decentralized)
• They established ‘the Emirate of Afghanistan’
Causes of this conflict
• The Taliban were ethnic Pashtuns and were against all other ethnicities
present in Afghanistan
Ethnic
Pashtuns
Causes of this conflict
• Massoud favoured a democracy and thus proposed the idea of democratic
voting,
• However, Taliban declined this
Views of each party
Views of the United Front and Ahmad Shah Massoud:
• Ahmad Shah Massoud wanted Afghanistan to be a democracy
• He wanted people to live with safety and security
• He suggested that all ethnicities lead together and share power
• He was against the idea of ‘the emirate of Afghanistan’
Views of each party
• The views of Taliban:
• The Taliban believed that Pashtuns were the real Muslims and all other ethnic groups were
false
• They thought that elections were modern day shams (fraud)
• They wanted Afghanistan to be recognized as ‘ the Emirate of Afghanistan’
Impact on local communities and the nation
• Taliban committed 15 massacres during the time period of 1996- 2001 on
the local people
Impact on local communities and the nation
• When Taliban seized power in Kabul, they tortured the locals to follow their
rules
• Moving outside the house without a male relative was strictly prohibited for
women, who also had to be covered from head to toe meanwhile men were
required to have long beards