Misplaced Pages

#141858

95-583: Following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan , a United Nations -sponsored conference of Afghan political figures in Bonn , Germany , led to the creation of the Afghan Interim Administration under the chairmanship of Hamid Karzai . However, this Interim Administration, which was not broadly representative, was scheduled to last only six months before being replaced by a Transitional Administration. The move to this second stage would require

190-467: A Pashtun Khalqi known for being the brutal commander of Pul-e-Charkhi . Momim refused to step down, he and ethnic Uzbek , General Rashid Dostum defected and allied with Ahmad Shah Massoud and Ali Mazari forming the Northern Alliance. The alliance would take the city of Mazar-i Sharif on March 19, 1992 and launching a massive offensive towards the capital of Kabul. Many non Pashtuns in

285-712: A third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington , Virginia , just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville , in rural Pennsylvania , after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. , to target the White House , or the US Capitol . No one aboard the flights survived. The death toll among responders including firefighters and police

380-490: A 1995 report: This is the first time in several months that Kabul civilians have become the targets of rocket attacks and shelling aimed at residential areas in the city. The Taliban's early victories in 1994 were followed by a series of defeats that resulted in heavy losses which led analysts to believe the Taliban movement had run its course. At that point Pakistan and Saudi Arabia drastically increased their support to

475-491: A Taliban insurgency gained increasing strength. In 2010, Afghan President Karzai decided that the only way to end the Taliban insurgency was to call for peace. This process became accepted and supported by all international partners of Afghanistan, except by several key figures of the Northern Alliance such as Abdullah Abdullah, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and others. The opposition, by then splintered into several parties, warned that Karzai's appeasement policy could come at

570-713: A consequent overwhelming support for India among Karzai's Afghan government officials, Pakistan looked to neutralise this threat by cultivating the Taliban in 2001. The assistance provided by India was extensive, including uniforms, ordnance, mortars, small armaments, refurbished Kalashnikovs, combat and winter clothes, as well as funds. In 2001 alone, according to several international sources, 28,000–30,000 Afghans, who took refuge in Pakistan during Afghan jihad, 14,000–15,000 Afghan Taliban and 2,000–3,000 Al Qaeda militants were fighting against anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan as

665-458: A large-scale attack on U.S. soil being imminent. On September 9, 2001, two Arab suicide attackers , allegedly belonging to Al Qaeda, posing as journalists, detonated a bomb hidden in a video camera while interviewing Ahmed Shah Massoud in the Takhar province of Afghanistan. Commander Massoud died in a helicopter that was taking him to a hospital. He was buried in his home village of Bazarak in

760-532: A nationwide political process with the goal of national consolidation and democratic elections , also inviting the Taliban to join the process but they refused as they opposed a democratic system. The Taliban started shelling Kabul in early 1995 but were defeated by forces of the Islamic State government under Ahmad Shah Massoud . Amnesty International , referring to the Taliban offensive, wrote in

855-519: A petition urging the nomination of Zahir Shah as Head of State, if only as a figurehead. In view of the speculation aroused by the petition, United States and United Nations representatives pressed the former king to withdraw. The start of the Loya Jirga was delayed from 10 to 11 June because of "logistical and preparatory problems." On June 10, the American representative Zalmay Khalilzad gave

950-755: A president for the Transitional Administration who would lead the country until official presidential elections could be held in 2004. Initially, two candidates who had declared to run: former president of Afghanistan and Northern Alliance leader Burhanuddin Rabbani , and the American-backed chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration Hamid Karzai . Karzai was also supported by Abdullah Abdullah and Mohammad Fahim , two important leaders of

1045-552: A press conference in which he declared that Zahir Shah was not a candidate. The same day, in a press conference, Zahir Shah confirmed this and said "I have no intention of restoring the monarchy. I am not a candidate for any position in the Loya Jirga." Hamid Karzai, who sat next to Zahir Shah at the press conference called Zahir Shah the "father of the nation" and thanked him for the "confidence His Majesty has put in me." The next day former President Burhanuddin Rabbani withdrew his candidacy for Head of State in favour of Hamid Karzai "for

SECTION 10

#1732765816142

1140-580: A proper vote and that the cabinet had not been democratically selected but was the result of political negotiations parallel to the Loya jirga. All three vice-presidential posts named by Karzai were given to commanders of the Northern Alliance , though Karzai ensured that none of the vice-presidents came from the same ethnic background. After the Loya Jirga, there was some controversy about the government Karzai had named, and several names were added to

1235-626: A return to the chaos similar to that of the 1992–1996 civil war , all the Afghan leaders met in Germany to create a new government. Hamid Karzai was chosen to lead the country and most key positions were given to Tajik members of the Northern Alliance. This created a major international issue. While Pakistan has always favored Afghanistan's major ethnic group, the Pashtun, India saw an opportunity for increasing its regional power by jumping on board with

1330-493: A roughly 45,000 strong military force. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf – then as Chief of Army Staff – was responsible for sending thousands of Pakistanis to fight alongside the Taliban and Bin Laden against the forces of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Of the estimated 28,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan fighting in Afghanistan, 8,000 were militants recruited in madrassas filling regular Taliban ranks. A 1998 document by

1425-543: A woman doctor working with the World Food Programme, and Mahfoz Nadai, an Uzbek army officer, poet, and deputy government minister, gathered enough signatures to be on the ballot. The election for president of the transitional administration was held by secret ballot on June 13, 2002, with black-and-white photos of the candidates adjacent to their names. Hamid Karzai was chosen with an overwhelming majority of 83% and remained in office as President. On June 18,

1520-704: Is referred to as the War in Afghanistan in order to distinguish it from the country's various other wars, notably the ongoing Afghan conflict of which it was a part, and the Soviet–Afghan War . From the perspective of the West , the war is divided between 2001 and 2014 (the ISAF mission), when most combat operations were performed by coalition forces, a 2015 to 2021 (the Resolute Support Mission ), when

1615-770: The "Airlift of Evil" . The role of the Pakistani military has been described by international observers as well as by the anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud as a "creeping invasion". The "creeping invasion" proved unable to defeat the severely outnumbered anti-Taliban forces. According to a 55-page report by the United Nations , the Taliban, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians. UN officials stated that there had been "15 massacres" between 1996 and 2001. They also said, that "[t]hese have been highly systematic and they all lead back to

1710-594: The Afghan military defected to the alliance. After removing Najibullah from power the alliance would dismantle as another civil war would break out between the various groups and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezbi Islami which many Pashtun Khalqists allied with. The civil war would see foreign interference from Saudi Arabia and Iran , as competitors for regional hegemony , supported Afghan militias hostile towards each other. According to Human Rights Watch, Iran

1805-598: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan . Ahmad Shah Massoud and Abdul Rashid Dostum , former allies and enemies, recreated a United Front (Northern Alliance) against the Taliban that were preparing offensives against the remaining areas under the control of Massoud and those under the control of Dostum. The United Front included beside the dominantly Tajik forces of Massoud and the Uzbek forces of Dostum, Hazara troops led by Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq and Pashtun forces under

1900-608: The Karzai administration . Amidst the Fall of Kabul in 2021 , former Northern Alliance leaders and other anti-Taliban figures regrouped as the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan . The United Front was formed in late 1996 against the Taliban government by opposition factions. Since early 1999, Ahmad Shah Massoud was the only main leader able to defend his territory against the Taliban, and as such remained as

1995-711: The Northern Alliance . A third possible candidate was Zahir Shah , former king of Afghanistan until 1973. He had spent years living in Rome but returned to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime. Already at the Bonn Conference, which installed the interim administration there was a group of supporters of Zahir Shah, called the Rome-group, advocated for the former king to take up the position of head of state. Upon arrival in Kabul, more than 800 delegates signed

SECTION 20

#1732765816142

2090-586: The Panjshir Valley . The funeral, although taking place in a rather rural area, was attended by hundreds of thousands of mourning people. The assassination of Massoud is considered to have a strong connection to the attacks in the U.S. two days later, which killed nearly 3,000 people and which appeared to be the terrorist attack that Massoud had warned against in his speech to the European Parliament several months earlier. John P. O'Neill

2185-788: The Six plus Two Group meetings at the United Nations Headquarters. In November and December 2001 the United Front gained control of much of the country and played a crucial role in establishing the post-Taliban interim government of Hamid Karzai in late 2001. After the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, the United Front succeeded in retaking Kabul from the Taliban with air support from US-led forces during Operation Enduring Freedom . Despite fears of

2280-482: The Talib who sought to end warlordism in Afghanistan through stricter adherence to Sharia . On 27 September 1996, the Taliban, with military support by Pakistan and financial support from Saudi Arabia , seized Kabul and founded the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan . The Taliban imposed their fundamentalist Deobandi interpretation of Islam in areas under their control, issuing edicts forbidding women to work outside

2375-477: The U.S. State Department confirms that "20–40 percent of [regular] Taliban soldiers are returned Afghans from Pakistani refugee camps". Human Rights Watch wrote in 2000: Of all the foreign powers involved in efforts to sustain and manipulate the ongoing fighting [in Afghanistan], Pakistan is distinguished both by the sweep of its objectives and the scale of its efforts, which include soliciting funding for

2470-589: The Women's Rights Declaration. At the same time he was very wary not to revive the failed Kabul government of the early 1990s. Already in 1999 the United Front leadership ordered the training of police forces specifically to keep order and protect the civilian population in case the United Front would be successful. In early 2001 Ahmad Shah Massoud addressed the European Parliament in Brussels asking

2565-416: The international community to provide humanitarian help to the people of Afghanistan. He stated that the Taliban and Al Qaeda had introduced "a very wrong perception of Islam " and that without the support of Pakistan and Bin Laden the Taliban would not be able to sustain their military campaign for up to a year. On this visit to Europe he also warned that his intelligence had gathered information about

2660-488: The killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011, and NATO leaders began planning an exit strategy from Afghanistan. On 28 December 2014, NATO formally ended ISAF combat operations in Afghanistan and officially transferred full security responsibility to the Afghan government. Unable to eliminate the Taliban through military means, coalition forces (and separately, the Afghan government led by Ashraf Ghani ) turned to diplomacy to end

2755-421: The 1990s in clandestine operations to locate and kill or capture Osama bin Laden. These teams planned several operations but did not receive the order to proceed from President Clinton. Their efforts built relationships with Afghan leaders that proved essential in the 2001 invasion. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a total of 19 men affiliated with Al-Qaeda carried out four coordinated attacks in

2850-535: The 1990s, Iran was the primary state sponsor of the Northern Alliance, along with India and Russia. By contrast, the Taliban were supported by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE . Because of Indian influence in the Alliance, Pakistan feared a Northern Alliance victory would result in Pakistan's encirclement by India on one side and an Indian-allied Northern Alliance on the other. During the 1990s, Turkey also supported

2945-616: The Afghan armed forces did most of the fighting against the Taliban. The war was named Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2014 and as Operation Freedom's Sentinel from 2015 to 2021 by the US. Alternatively, it has been called the US War in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan itself, the war is known as simply the "War in Afghanistan" ( Dari : جنگ در افغانستان Jang dar Afghanistan , Pashto : د افغانستان جګړه Da Afghanistan Jagra ). The Taliban emerged from religious students known as

Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan - Misplaced Pages Continue

3040-441: The Afghan intelligence apparatus and became the de facto supervisor of Wardak, he decided to join the administration anyway. However, he also formed a party outside of the government and ran for president in the next elections. There was also controversy around the post of Minister for Women's Affairs: Interim Women's Affairs Minister Sima Samar had been very outspoken and she had received threats. Complaints against her were filed by

3135-674: The Afghanistan Justice Project. Because of the chaos, some leaders increasingly had only nominal control over their (sub-)commanders. Human Rights Watch writes: Rare ceasefires, usually negotiated by representatives of Ahmad Shah Massoud , Sibghatullah Mojaddedi or Burhanuddin Rabbani [the interim government], or officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), commonly collapsed within days. Meanwhile, southern Afghanistan

3230-573: The Interior Ministry temporarily blocked off the roads around the Interior Ministry complex in Kabul on June 20 and 21 and brandished weapons to demonstrate that their loyalties remained with Qanuni. They denied the new Interior Minister, the 80-year-old Taj Mohammad Wardak, access to the Interior Ministry After Karzai appointed Qanuni as special adviser on security, through which he retained unofficial control over

3325-1140: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: 3,000–3,500 [REDACTED] Taliban : 58,000-100,000 (As of February 2021) [REDACTED] HIG : 1,500–2,000+ (2014) [REDACTED] al-Qaeda : ~300 in 2016 (~ 3,000 in 2001) [REDACTED] Fidai Mahaz : 8,000 (2013) Afghan security forces: 66,000–69,095 killed Northern Alliance: 200 killed Coalition : Dead: 3,579 Wounded: 23,536 Contractors Dead: 3,917 Wounded: 15,000+ Taliban insurgents : 52,893 killed (2,000+ al-Qaeda fighters) Civilians killed: 70,000 Total killed: 176,206 (per Brown University ) 212,191+ (per UCDP ) The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of November 2014. Timeline Major operations Airstrikes Major insurgent attacks 2002 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Massacres Other The War in Afghanistan

3420-578: The Loya Jirga, Karzai named former King Zahir Shah the Father of the Nation. However, some of the king's supporters thought that an honorary title wasn't enough and would have preferred to see him in an official position as president, with Karzai as prime minister. Additionally, two of the king's loyalists, Hedayat Amin Arsala and Abdul Rassoul Amin , had lost their positions in the interim government. Because

3515-492: The Loya Jirga. During and after the Loya Jirga, army and police officials threatened, imprisoned, and even killed candidates to stop them from running for the Loya Jirga or to intimidate them from acting independently. The Northern Alliance still dominated the government. The three vice-presidents Karzai announced at the Loya Jirga— Khalili , Qadir and Fahim —were all Northern Alliance commanders, although none of them had

3610-425: The Northern Alliance increased dramatically. Iran established an " airbridge " between Mashhad and the Afghan airbases of Bagram and Kulyab to ferry large quantities of arms to the Northern Alliance. For example, it was reported that on one day alone in 1997, 13 Iranian flights arrived at Bagram. In another instance, Iran was believed to have been found sending 700 tons of arms via Tajikistan. On August 1, 1997

3705-585: The Northern Alliance. During the early 1990s the Najibullah regime funded pro government militias all over the country in order to fight the mujahedeen insurgency however Najibullah, an ethnic Pashtun began to mistrust the mostly non-Pashtun militias in the north many of whom had ties to Ahmad Shah Massoud . In an effort to reassert his control over the supply lines in the North, Najibullah replaced General Abdul Momim , an ethnic Tajik , with General Rasul,

3800-409: The Northern Alliance. The alliance's capture of Mazar-i-Sharif and more importantly the supplies kept there crippled the Afghan military and began the end of Najibullah's government. Following the collapse of Najibullah's government the Alliance would fall with a Second Civil War breaking out however following the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 's ( Taliban ) takeover of Kabul , The United Front

3895-454: The Northern Alliance. Israel was initially not critical of the Taliban, as both governments opposed Iran, and the Mossad reached out to the Taliban. However, later, under pressure from United States and Turkey, Israel instead began reaching out to the Northern Alliance, even though it remained suspicious of the Alliance's pro-Iran position. Due to Indian backing of Karzai's administration and

Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan - Misplaced Pages Continue

3990-581: The Security Council stated it was "deeply distress[ed] over reports of involvement in the fighting, on the Taliban side, of thousands of non-Afghan nationals". In July 2001, several countries including the United States, accused Pakistan of being "in violation of U.N. sanctions because of its military aid to the Taliban". In 2000, British Intelligence reported that the ISI was taking an active role in several Al Qaeda training camps. The ISI helped with

4085-517: The September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban immediately extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to the United States; the Taliban refused to do so without evidence of Bin Laden's involvement. After the expelling of the Taliban and their allies, the US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission (ISAF)—sanctioned by the United Nations —with

4180-539: The Supreme Court, which eventually decided not to charge her with blasphemy . Because Samar wasn't on the list at the Loya Jirga, there was initially no minister appointed for Women's Affairs. Karzai later appointed Mahbuba Huquqmal as State Representative in the Women's Affairs Ministry, and afterward, Habiba Sarabi as formal Minister of Women's Affairs. The Pashtun vice-president was Haji Abdul Qadeer , one of

4275-645: The Taliban against the United Front. A smaller number were inducted into Al-Qaeda. After the August 1998 United States embassy bombings were linked to bin Laden, President Bill Clinton ordered missile strikes on militant training camps in Afghanistan. US officials pressed the Taliban to surrender bin Laden. In 1999, the international community imposed sanctions on the Taliban, calling for bin Laden to be surrendered. The Taliban repeatedly rebuffed these demands. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Special Activities Division paramilitary teams were active in Afghanistan in

4370-612: The Taliban and other Islamist groups waged asymmetric warfare , fighting with guerrilla warfare in the countryside, suicide attacks against urban targets, and reprisals against perceived Afghan collaborators. By 2007, large parts of Afghanistan had been retaken by the Taliban. In response, the coalition sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations , with a " clear and hold " strategy for villages and towns; this influx peaked in 2011, when roughly 140,000 foreign troops were operating under ISAF command across Afghanistan. A US covert operation in neighboring Pakistan led to

4465-577: The Taliban and their allies in 1998. Dostum subsequently went into exile. Ahmad Shah Massoud remained the only major anti-Taliban leader inside the country who was able to defend vast parts of his territory against the Pakistani Army, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, not once leaving Afghanistan except for diplomatic purposes. The Taliban repeatedly offered Massoud money and a position of power to make him stop his resistance. Massoud declined. He explained in one interview: The Taliban say: "Come and accept

4560-709: The Taliban controlled as much as 90% of Afghanistan, with the Northern Alliance confined to the country's northeast corner. Fighting alongside Taliban forces were some 28,000–30,000 Pakistanis (usually also Pashtun) and 2,000–3,000 Al-Qaeda militants. The 9/11 Commission in the US found that under the Taliban, Al-Qaeda was able to use Afghanistan as a place to train and teach fighters, import weapons, coordinate with other jihadists , and plot terrorist actions. While Al-Qaeda maintained its own camps in Afghanistan , it also supported training camps of other organizations. An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 men passed through these facilities before 9/11, most of whom were sent to fight for

4655-694: The Taliban launched an attack on Sheberghan, the main military base of Abdul Rashid Dostum. Dostum has said the reason the attack was successful was due to 1500 Pakistani commandos taking part and that the Pakistani air force also gave support. In October to November 1998, the Northern Alliance used Iranian and Russian arms to recapture territory from the Taliban near the Uzbekistan and Tajikistan border. In 1998, Iran accused Pakistan of sending its air force to bomb Mazar-i-Sharif in support of Taliban forces and directly accused Pakistani troops for "war crimes at Bamiyan ". The same year Russia said that Pakistan

4750-443: The Taliban to Afghanistan. Between 1996 and 2001, the Northern Alliance blocked the Taliban and al-Qaeda from gaining control of the entirety of Afghanistan. Many internally displaced persons found shelter in areas controlled by Ahmad Shah Massoud. After the September 2001 attacks in the United States, U.S. air raids followed by ground troops of the United Front ousted the Taliban from power in Kabul. Between November and December 2001,

4845-420: The Taliban, bankrolling Taliban operations, providing diplomatic support as the Taliban's virtual emissaries abroad, arranging training for Taliban fighters, recruiting skilled and unskilled manpower to serve in Taliban armies, planning and directing offensives, providing and facilitating shipments of ammunition and fuel, and ... directly providing combat support. After Taliban captured Kabul, Iran's assistance to

SECTION 50

#1732765816142

4940-478: The Taliban. Many analysts like Amin Saikal describe the Taliban as developing into a proxy force for Pakistan's regional interests. On September 26, 1996, as the Taliban with military support by Pakistan and financial support by Saudi Arabia, prepared for another major offensive against the capital Kabul, Massoud ordered a full retreat from the city. The Taliban seized Kabul on September 27, 1996, and established

5035-480: The United Front were either independent or belonged to one of the following political parties: Military commanders and subcommanders of the United Front included: The two main political candidates in the 2009 Afghan presidential election both worked for the United Front: Initially, the city of Mazar-i-Sharif under Dostum's control served as one of the Northern Alliance's headquarters, until

5130-607: The United States. Four commercial passenger jet airliners were hijacked. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and more than 2,000 people in the buildings. Both buildings collapsed within two hours from damage related to the crashes, destroying and damaging nearby buildings. The hijackers crashed

5225-403: The Women's Affairs Ministry and later also appointed a formal Minister of Women's Affairs. In the last days of June, Karzai also added two more vice-presidents and another National Security Adviser. The interim government, led by a Pashtun, had 12 Tajiks and 9 Pashtuns in its cabinet of ministers. Therefore, Pashtuns wanted the subsequent transitional administration to be more representative. In

5320-521: The [Taliban] Ministry of Defense or to Mullah Omar himself". Al Qaeda's so-called 055 Brigade was also responsible for mass-killings of Afghan civilians. The report by the United Nations quotes eyewitnesses in many villages describing Arab fighters "carrying long knives used for slitting throats and skinning people". After longstanding battles especially for the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Abdul Rashid Dostum and his Junbish-i Milli forces alongside allied Hezb-e Wahdat forces were defeated by

5415-538: The anti-Taliban Northern Alliance ; Osama bin Laden, meanwhile, relocated to neighboring Pakistan . The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive , which overthrew the Islamic Republic, and re-established the Islamic Emirate. It was the longest war in the military history of the United States , surpassing the length of the Vietnam War (1955–1975) by approximately six months. Following

5510-526: The assassination of Massoud]. I don't like the way things are lining up in Afghanistan. ... I sense a shift, and I think things are going to happen. ... soon. O'Neill died the following day, when the south tower collapsed. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, United Front troops ousted the Taliban from power in Kabul with American air support in Operation Enduring Freedom , using intelligence reports offered by Iran during

5605-437: The bottom of Afghan society including the Pashtun areas. In total, estimates range up to one million people fleeing the Taliban. Many civilians fled to the area of Ahmad Shah Massoud . National Geographic concluded in its documentary "Inside the Taliban" : "The only thing standing in the way of future Taliban massacres is Ahmad Shah Massoud ". In the areas under his control Massoud set up democratic institutions and signed

5700-410: The central government's control. In late 1994, most of the militia factions which had been fighting in the battle for control of Kabul were defeated militarily by forces of the Islamic State's Minister of Defense Ahmad Shah Massoud . Bombardment of the capital came to a halt. The Islamic State government took steps to restore law and order. Courts started to work again. Massoud tried to initiate

5795-528: The city was overrun in 1997. Under Massoud's control, Taloqan in Takhar Province , north of Panjshir, was the group's headquarters until September 5, 2000, when the city was taken by the Taliban and led to its base moving to Badakhshan Province . Massoud also maintained a private residence in Dushanbe , Tajikistan . It was there where Massoud would meet international diplomatic staff who supported

SECTION 60

#1732765816142

5890-528: The conflict. These efforts culminated in the United States–Taliban deal in February 2020, which stipulated the withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan by 2021. In exchange, the Taliban pledged to prevent any militant group from staging attacks from Afghan territory against the US and its allies. However, the Afghan government was not a party to the deal and rejected its terms. Coinciding with

5985-885: The construction of training camps for both the Taliban and Al Qaeda . From 1996 to 2001 the Al Qaeda of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri became a state within the Taliban state. Bin Laden sent Arab and Central Asian Al-Qaeda militants to join the fight against the United Front among them his Brigade 055 . With the fall of Kabul to anti-Taliban forces in November 2001, ISI forces worked with and helped Taliban militias who were in full retreat. In November 2001, Taliban, Al-Qaeda combatants and ISI operatives were safely evacuated from Kunduz on Pakistan Air Force cargo aircraft to Pakistan Air Force bases in Chitral and Gilgit in Pakistan's Northern Areas in what has been dubbed

6080-404: The convening of a traditional Afghan "grand assembly", called a Loya Jirga . This Emergency Loya Jirga would elect a new Head of State and appoint the Transitional Administration, which, in turn, would run the country for a maximum of two more years until a "fully representative government" could be elected through free and fair elections. The most important task for the Loya Jirga was to choose

6175-460: The cost of Afghanistan's political and economic development, including the progress made in areas such as education and women's rights. Because NATO excluded the Karzai administration and the opposition leaders were excluded from secret talks with the Taliban, Karzai's political rhetoric was increasingly adjusted to Taliban demands, United Front leaders, and in late 2011, regrouped to oppose a return of

6270-564: The day Karzai was to present his cabinet to the Loya Jirga, he informed the assembly that he needed one more day to finalize his list. On June 19, the last day of the Loya Jirga, Karzai announced the names of 14 ministers for the future Afghan transitional administration , including three Vice-Presidents. He also named a Chief Justice. "Do you accept this Cabinet?" Karzai asked the Loya Jirga. After hands went up in support, he said, "All have accepted it, and I am happy about it." This led to some controversy, as delegates stated that there had not been

6365-874: The few Northern Alliance commanders of Pashtun ethnic origin. On July 6, 2002, Qadir and his son-in-law were killed by gunmen in a surprise attack with an unknown motive. In 2004, one man was sentenced to death and two others to prison sentences for the killing. War in Afghanistan (2001%E2%80%93present) Invasion (2001): [REDACTED]   Northern Alliance [REDACTED]   United States [REDACTED]   United Kingdom [REDACTED]   Canada RS phase (2015–2021): [REDACTED] ISAF : 130,000+ (Peak Strength) [REDACTED] Afghan National Defense and Security Forces : 307,947 (Peak Strength, January 2021) [REDACTED] Resolute Support Mission : 17,178 (Peak Strength, October 2019) Defence Contractors: 117,227 (Peak Strength, Q2 2012) [REDACTED] High Council of

6460-410: The goal of creating a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power. A new Afghan Interim Administration was established, and international rebuilding efforts were launched. By 2003, the Taliban had reorganized under their founder, Mullah Omar , and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. Insurgents from

6555-464: The home, attend school or to leave their homes unless accompanied by a male relative. According to the United Nations (UN), the Taliban, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians. UN officials stated that there had been "15 massacres" between 1996 and 2001, many of them targeting Shias and Hazaras . By 2001,

6650-509: The leadership of commanders such as Abdul Haq and Haji Abdul Qadir . Notable politicians and diplomats of the United Front included Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai , Abdullah Abdullah and Masood Khalili . From the Taliban conquest of Kabul in September 1996 until November 2001 the United Front controlled roughly 30% of Afghanistan's population in provinces such as Badakhshan , Kapisa , Takhar and parts of Parwan , Kunar , Nuristan , Laghman , Samangan , Kunduz , Ghōr and Bamyan . Throughout

6745-412: The list before the actual cabinet was sworn in on June 24, to appease certain factions within Afghanistan. On June 22, Karzai presented more cabinet members, bringing the total number of ministers to 29. This cabinet was installed on June 24, 2002. However, due to controversy around the post of Minister of Women's Affairs, this position remained vacant. Before the end of June, Karzai named a State adviser to

6840-460: The main de facto political and military leader of the United Front recognized by members of all the different ethnic groups. Massoud decided on the main political line and the general military strategy of the alliance. A part of the United Front military factions, such as Junbish-i Milli or Hezb-e Wahdat , however, did not fall under the direct control of Massoud but remained under their respective regional or ethnic leaders. Military commanders of

6935-522: The members loyal to Zahir Shah, united in the 'Rome group,' felt they had too little influence, Karzai added Zalmay Rassoul as Security Adviser and Amin Arsala as a fifth vice-president at the end of June. Karzai was also under pressure to include highly educated Afghans in the administration who had become refugees during the Communist or Taliban rule of Afghanistan and had been educated at Western universities. The most remarkable person Karzai appointed

7030-498: The new administration, there were 13 Pashtun ministers among the 30 ministers. The rest of the cabinet comprised 7 Tajiks, 3 Uzbeks, 2 Hazaras, 2 non-Hazara Shi'ites, and 1 Turkmen. The Pashtun element in the transitional administration was stronger than in the interim administration, and the Loya Jirga was meant, in part, to increase civilian influence in the government. However, in many ways, Afghanistan's military factions and warlords increased and further legitimized their power during

7125-532: The north-east and based in Badakhshan province . The US invaded Afghanistan , providing support to Northern Alliance troops on the ground in a two-month war against the Taliban, which they won in December 2001. With the Taliban forced from control of the country, the Northern Alliance was dissolved as members and parties supported the new Afghan Interim Administration , with some members later becoming part of

7220-437: The opening session he would be resigning as Minister of the interior so Karzai could strengthen the national government by broadening its ethnic mix. Yunus Qanuni, the former Interior Minister, was unhappy with the post of Education Minister he had been assigned, as he had expected to become something like a prime minister. Qanuni said he considered not joining the government at all. The rank-and-file Panjshiri troops who dominate

7315-426: The people now. They are weaker than in the past. There is only the assistance given by Pakistan, Osama bin Laden and other extremist groups that keep the Taliban on their feet. With a halt to that assistance, it is extremely difficult to survive. In early 2001 the United Front employed a new strategy of local military pressure and global political appeals. Resentment was increasingly gathering against Taliban rule from

7410-404: The post of prime minister and be with us", and they would keep the highest office in the country, the presidentship. But for what price?! The difference between us concerns mainly our way of thinking about the very principles of the society and the state. We can not accept their conditions of compromise, or else we would have to give up the principles of modern democracy. We are fundamentally against

7505-443: The protracted US-led military presence in the country. Overall, the war killed an estimated 176,000–212,000+ people, including 46,319 civilians. While more than 5.7 million former refugees returned to Afghanistan after the 2001 invasion, by the time the Taliban returned to power in 2021, 2.6 million Afghans remained refugees , while another 4 million were internally displaced . This twenty-year armed conflict (2001–2021)

7600-455: The sake of national unity" So it looked like Karzai would go into the race for head of government uncontested, but two other candidates emerged. To be on the ballot at the Loya Jirga, a candidate had to submit 150 signatures for his candidacy. Glam Fareq Majidi gathered only 101 signatures, so he was disqualified as a candidate. Former mujahedeen fighter Mohammed Asef Mohsoni submitted a list with 1,050 names for Karzai. And also Masooda Jalal,

7695-485: The same ethnic background. The powerful Tajik Jamiat-e Islami trio of Fahim, Qanuni, and Abdullah kept important positions in the new cabinet. The powerful warlord Ismail Khan was not part of the administration, but he was represented by his son, Mir Wais Saddiq . However, Saddiq was assassinated in 2004 while serving as minister. Another powerful warlord, the Uzbek Abdul Rashid Dostum ,

7790-404: The support of the Northern Alliance in the early days of the war. With both nations seeking to increase or maintain their regional power through opposing factions on the ground, observers came to view the conflict in Afghanistan as a proxy-war between the two state powers. From 2002 to 2004, war activity in Afghanistan was relatively calm. By 2006, however, with the support of Pakistan and Iran,

7885-488: The system called "the Emirate of Afghanistan". There should be an Afghanistan where every Afghan finds himself or herself happy. And I think that can only be assured by democracy based on consensus. Massoud wanted to convince the Taliban to join a political process leading towards democratic elections in a foreseeable future. He also stated: The Taliban are not a force to be considered invincible. They are distanced from

7980-434: The two militias soon escalated into a full-scale war. Due to the sudden initiation of the war, working government departments, police units or a system of justice and accountability for the newly created Islamic State of Afghanistan did not have time to form. Atrocities were committed by individuals of the different armed factions while Kabul descended into lawlessness and chaos as described in reports by Human Rights Watch and

8075-461: The withdrawal of troops, the Taliban launched a broad offensive throughout the summer of 2021, successfully reestablishing their control over Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul on 15 August . On the same day, the last president of the Islamic Republic, Ashraf Ghani, fled the country; the Taliban declared victory and the war was formally brought to a close. By 30 August, the last American military aircraft departed from Afghanistan , ending

8170-542: Was Ashraf Ghani , who worked at the World Bank, as Finance Minister. Juma Mohammedi , who became Mines Minister, was also a World Bank employee. The new Interior Minister, Taj Mohammad Wardak , held American citizenship, as did Ali Ahmad Jalali, who replaced him as Interior Minister in January 2003. Because of the issue of Pashtun underrepresentation, Yunus Qanuni , one of the important Northern Alliance leaders, told

8265-595: Was 836 as of 2009. Total deaths were 2,996, including the 19 hijackers. Northern Alliance Non-state allies: Non-state opponents: The Northern Alliance ( Dari : ائتلاف شمال E'tilāf Šumāl or اتحاد شمال Ettehād Šumāl ), officially known as the United Islamic National Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan ( Dari : جبهه متحد اسلامی ملی برای نجات افغانستان Jabha-ye Muttahid-e Islāmī-ye Millī barāye Najāt-e Afğānistān ),

8360-647: Was a counter-terrorism expert and the Assistant Director of the FBI until late 2001. He retired from the FBI and was offered the position of director of security at the World Trade Center (WTC). He took the job at the WTC two weeks before 9/11. On September 10, 2001, John O'Neill told two of his friends, We're due. And we're due for something big. ... Some things have happened in Afghanistan [referring to

8455-593: Was a military alliance of groups that operated between early 1992 and 2001 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union . At that time, many non-Pashtun Northerners originally with the Republic of Afghanistan led by Mohammad Najibullah became disaffected with Pashtun Khalqist Afghan Army officers holding control over non-Pashtun militias in the North. Defectors such as Rashid Dostum and Abdul Momim allied with Ahmad Shah Massoud and Ali Mazari forming

8550-465: Was also not part of the cabinet; however, there was one more Uzbek in the transitional administration than in the interim administration. In the years after the government was established, President Karzai made efforts to limit the worst effects of warlord dominance. For example, he replaced the relatively weak Pashtun who led the Ministry of Interior with the more reform-minded Ali Ahmad Jalali . At

8645-582: Was an armed conflict that took place from 2001 to 2021. Launched as a direct response to the September 11 attacks , the war began when an international military coalition led by the United States invaded Afghanistan , declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the earlier-declared war on terror , toppling the Taliban -ruled Islamic Emirate , and establishing the Islamic Republic three years later. The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centers by US-led forces supporting

8740-682: Was backing the Shia Hazara Hezb-e Wahdat forces of Abdul Ali Mazari in order to "maximize Wahdat's military power and influence". Saudi Arabia supported the Wahhabite Abdul Rasul Sayyaf and his Ittehad-e Islami faction. A publication by the George Washington University describes: [O]utside forces saw instability in Afghanistan as an opportunity to press their own security and political agendas. Conflict between

8835-539: Was reassembled. The Northern Alliance fought a defensive war against the Taliban regime. They received support from India , Iran , Russia , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , the United States and Uzbekistan , while the Taliban were extensively backed by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence . By 2001, the Northern Alliance controlled less than 10% of the country, cornered in

8930-524: Was responsible for the military expansion of the Taliban in northern Afghanistan by sending large numbers of Pakistani troops, some of whom had subsequently been taken as prisoners by the anti-Taliban United Front. In 2000, the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo against military support to the Taliban, with UN officials explicitly singling out Pakistan. The UN secretary-general implicitly criticized Pakistan for its military support and

9025-462: Was under the control of local leaders not affiliated with the central government in Kabul. In 1994, the Taliban – a movement originating from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam –run religious schools for Afghan refugees in Pakistan – also developed in Afghanistan as a politico-religious force. In November 1994 they took control of the southern city of Kandahar and subsequently expanded their control into several provinces in southern and central Afghanistan not under

#141858