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• The Taliban is a political and religious group that practices a radical form of Islam.

  On March 31, 2009, Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani police academy and told the media that the Taliban "will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world."FOXNews.com: Taliban Chief Vows 'Amazing' Attack on Washington 'Soon' (March 31, 2009)

• Fast Facts:

  1. Name is Persian for "students"
  2. Ethic PashtunsBBC News: Who are the Taliban?
  3. March 2001: Ordered destruction of Buddhas of Bamyan
  4. Regime responsible for 75% of world's opium supply
  5. Harbored close ally Osama Bin Laden after September 11
  6. Suspected of involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
  7. Support: Public executions and amputationsBBC News: Who are the Taliban?
  8. Oppose: Television, music, cinemaBBC News: Who are the Taliban?
  9. Oppose: Education of girlsFeminist Majority Foundation: The Taliban and Afghan Women
  10. Oppose: Women in the workforceFeminist Majority Foundation: The Taliban and Afghan Women

• John Solecki

  The Taliban is believed to be involved in the kidnapping of John Solecki, a UN aid worker, in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 2, 2009. ABC: Gunmen Kidnap American... (February 2, 2009)Quetta, where the attack occurred, is in southwestern Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan. It is thought to harbor Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar.ABC News: Gunmen Kidnap American in Pakistan (February 2, 2009)

• Prison Break

  On June 13, 2008, 30 Taliban members on motorcycles and two suicide bombers attacked the prison in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Over 15 police officers were killed and over 1,000 inmates escaped. Among the escapees were over 350 members of the Taliban.

• History

  From 1996 until the NATO invasion of 2001, the Taliban controlled most of the nation of Afghanistan. In the early years the majority of Afghanis supported the Taliban. The Afghanis were tired of the warlords fighting; the Taliban, lead by a village clergyman and war veteran Mullah Mohammad Omar, promised peace and an Islamic government. The Taliban quickly gained support by limiting corruption and criminal activities in the country. They expanded from the south western province of Kandahar where they originated. By September of 1996 they had captured Kabul, the capital, and overthrew Burhanuddin Rabbani, the president. By 1998 they had control over 90% of the Afghanistan.

• Post 9-11:

  After 9-11, the Taliban refused to turn Osama Bin Laden over to the United States government. On October 7, 2001 the United States attacked Afghanistan and by the beginning of December 2001 the central Taliban government had collapsed.

  Mullah Omar escaped and is thought to be leading the Taliban resurgence, which is using guerrilla and terrorist tactics to attempt to return to power..

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Mullah Omar | Afghanistan War | Battle of Musa Qala | War on Terror | Osama Bin Laden | Waziristan Conflict | Baitullah Mehsud | Benazir Bhutto | Bhutto Cover-Up | Sherry Rehman | Serena Hotel | Gayle Williams | Stephen Vance | Malika El-Aroud | Jihad | Taliban Prison Break | John Solecki | White Phosphorus

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