Taliban Captured Kabul

Why in news ?

The fundamentalist Islamic force called the Taliban captured Kabul on 15 th August after gaining control over much of the country following the withdrawal of US troops.

About Afganistan ?

Afghanistan is a  nation of Central Asia & South Asia. Here, The ethnic & Linguistic diversity is as follows :    -50% - Pakhtoon,   25% -  Tazak,    17% -  Uzbeks.

Pakhtoon -Ethnic Afghans  and Pathans  are an Iranian ethnic group.

Brief history of Afganistan ?

For decades Afganistan  was under Russian control. After that it was controlled by Taliban. This rule forced Afghanistan to live in medieval era. Since 2001 it was under control of NATO under USA .

Afghanistan is a …unitary presidential Islamic republic . Current President  Ashraf Gani fled in Aug 2021 and now Afganistan is  again under control of Taliban after 20 years  

What is Taliban

- The Taliban ( 'students'), which refers to itself as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, are a Sunni Islamic organization that operates in Afghanistan.

-It s a Deobandi Islamist religious-political movement and military organization in Afghanistan, regarded by multiple governments and organizations as terrorists.

-Deoband is an Islamic revivalist movement within Sunni (primarily Hanafi) Islam  that formed around the Darul Uloom Islamic seminary in the town of Deoband, India, where the name derives from, during the late 19th century

-The group was mainly composed of religious students in Pakistani madrassas  under the leadership of… Mohammed Omar.

  -It is reported ….Al-Qaeda, an international terrorist network, were granted sanctuary on the condition that it does not antagonize the United States, but Osama bin Laden  orchestrated bombings of US embassies in East Africa.

-The Taliban was fundamentally parochial while Al-Qaeda had its sights set on global jihad.  

What are the  issues related with Taliban?

- Freedom of …speech, education and women's rights that is practised in Afghanistan under its constitution; under the Taliban's rule, such rights were suppressed.

How do Taliban  fund themselves?

The Taliban makes money by Afghanistan’s illegal drug trade.

They impose taxes on poppy growers and heroin producers in the areas of Afghanistan it controls. They also impose taxes on businesses and operate illegal mines.

Besides, it receives funding from supporters in Pakistan and the Gulf.

Impact on India ?

Since 2001, India has invested around $3 billion (Rs224 crore) in Afghanistan's infrastructure, which includes over 400 projects across all provinces in the country.

The situation in Afghanistan could  set off a domino effect in the Indian subcontinent.

As the Taliban gains control on Afganistan , India is closely looking at how Afghanistan’s relationship evolves with Pakistan.

A Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would contribute to militancy and conflict in Kashmir.

Role of Pakistan

The Pakistani military and intelligence establishment have been actively supporting and funding the Taliban.

 The headquarters of Taliban known as Quetta Shura is located inside the Quetta city of Pakistan.

 The Pakistani establishment trained the Pashtun Taliban members.

The Taliban received logistics and tactical support from the Pakistani military.

 The Taliban fighters have spent considerable time in Pakistan, some of the members have received medical treatment in Pakistani hospitals.

 After the seizure of Kabul, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that Taliban have broken the "shackles of slavery"