Talibanistan: History of a Transnational Terrorist Sanctuary

Abstract

This article traces the movement of foreign jihadis to the Pashtun tribal lands situated on the volatile Pakistani-Afghan border from the time of the CIA-sponsored Operation ‘Cyclone’ to the re-emergence of the Taliban in 2006–2007. The role of autonomous jihadi groups such as the Kashmiri parties, Uighurs, Chechens, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan as well as the neo-Taliban insurgents and Al-Qaeda terrorist and 055 fighting forces are also analyzed. The article concludes with an overview of fighting and terror trends and future prospects along the Pakistani-Afghan border.