Taliban facts for kids
The Taliban is a political and military group that currently governs Afghanistan. They call their government the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Several countries consider the Taliban a terrorist organization. Most international governments do not officially recognize their rule.
The Taliban first ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. After the September 11 attacks, an American-led invasion removed them from power. Following a 20-year conflict, the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. According to the United Nations, the Taliban and their allies were responsible for a large percentage of Afghan civilian casualties in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The group funded itself through unlawful economic activities, including illegal trade, extortion, and kidnapping.
The Taliban forced men to serve as soldiers and to work in their civil service. This was often done at gunpoint. According to a report from Oxford University, the Taliban widely used forced recruitment of young people in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The report stated that during the civil war, thousands of orphaned boys joined militias for safety and economic reasons. Witnesses said that each land-owning family had to provide one young man and money. In August of one year, 5,000 students aged 15 to 35 left religious schools in Pakistan to join the Taliban.
Before the Taliban came to power, education was highly valued in Afghanistan. Kabul University attracted students from across Asia and the Middle East. However, the Taliban restricted modern education. They banned education for females. Only Islamic religious schools were allowed to stay open, focusing on teaching the Qur'an. About half of all schools in Afghanistan were destroyed. The Taliban carried out attacks on teachers and students. They also threatened parents and teachers.
While in power, the Taliban banned activities and media like paintings, photography, and movies that showed people or living things. They also prohibited most music with instruments. They prevented girls and young women from attending school. Women were banned from most jobs outside of healthcare. They had to be accompanied by a male relative and wear a burqa in public. The Taliban's brutal treatment of women was widespread and received strong international criticism.
Men were required to grow long beards and wear turbans outside their homes. Prayer was made compulsory. Men who did not pray after the call to prayer were arrested. Eating pork and drinking alcohol were banned. They also forbade many types of modern technology, like music with instruments, television, and the Internet. Most forms of art, like paintings and photography, were also banned.
Sports, such as football and chess, were forbidden. Recreational activities like kite-flying and keeping pigeons were also stopped. Movie theaters were closed and turned into mosques. Celebrating Western and Iranian New Years was also forbidden. Taking and displaying photographs was banned because the Taliban considered them forms of idol worship.
The Taliban also discriminated harshly against religious and ethnic minorities. They committed cultural genocide by destroying many monuments, including the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan.
Contents
Understanding the Name "Taliban"
The word Taliban comes from Pashto and means "students." It is the plural of Talib, which means "student" in Arabic. In Afghanistan, a member or supporter of the group is called a Talib.
How the Taliban Began
The Soviet-Afghan War (1978–1992)
After the Soviet Union entered Afghanistan in 1979, Islamic fighters called mujahideen fought against Soviet forces. Many of the Taliban's first leaders were part of these mujahideen groups. Pakistan, the US, and Saudi Arabia provided support to these fighters.
Afghan Civil War (1992–1996)
After the Soviet-backed government fell in 1992, different Afghan groups struggled for power. This led to a civil war. Rival groups fought for control over the capital city, Kabul. This conflict caused much destruction and suffering. During this time, many areas outside Kabul were controlled by local leaders and their militias.
The Taliban's Journey Through History
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The Taliban group started in the Pashtun areas of Afghanistan in the mid-1990s. Their ideas were shaped by religious schools and support from countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They quickly gained control of many parts of Afghanistan, including Kandahar. They fought against other groups, like the Northern Alliance.
During their first time in power, from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban put in place very strict religious rules. These rules greatly affected women's rights and cultural heritage. They were criticized for violence against civilians and for destroying important historical sites, like the Buddhas of Bamiyan. After the US-led invasion in 2001, the Taliban were removed from power. However, they regrouped and fought a long conflict for two decades.
The Taliban returned to power in 2021 after US troops left Afghanistan.
Designated as a Terrorist Organization
The Taliban movement is officially illegal in the following countries:
Argentina
Bahrain
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
Tajikistan
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United States (some Taliban leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists), though the entire organization (except Haqqani network) is not listed on the United States Department of State list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Former:
Kazakhstan (2005–2023)
Kyrgyzstan (2006–2024)
Russia (2003–2025)
Images for kids
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President Ronald Reagan meeting with Afghan Mujahideen leaders in the Oval Office in 1983
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Taller Buddha in 1963 and in 2008 after destruction
Category:Taliban
See also
In Spanish: Talibán para niños
