Implications of the Enigmatic Rise of Taliban: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 1994 was the opening of a new chapter in the current Afghan history while Afghanistan's socio-political environment was in disorder. The emergence of the Taliban was a new phenomenon, and no one expected that an ordinary militia would become a strong power in Afghanistan. Taliban was a highly secret force that had neither formal structure nor any formal membership. It was also believed that the Taliban were Pakistan protege. Their rise to power in Afghanistan had a profound impact on Pakistan's society. Violence, drug trade, corruption and soared with the rise of the Taliban. Pakistan aimed in the militia support a friendly regime in Kabul and strategic equilibrium in the region. However, the Taliban harsh policies against women and Human Rights violations invoked international criticism. Taliban had no economic vision except for revenue from the drug trade and smuggling of goods via the Durand Line. Their policies had serious implications for the region and the globe. The Taliban support and provision of sanctuaries to Al-Qaida invited international sanctions. The September 11 Terrorist attack on US soil ultimately turned into the fall of the Taliban.