Afghanistan: Afghan Civil Wars

Afghanistan: Afghan Civil Wars

First Afghan Civil War

1989-1992

• four days after the Soviet withdrawal, Najibullah’s government introduced a state of emergency

• 1,700 intellectuals were arrested in one month

• the Mujahedeen fought against Najibullah (the communists)

Overthrow of Najibullah

16 April 1992

• various rebel groups stormed the capital of Kabul and overthrew him

• he was forced to resign when Mujahedeen forces advanced. he sought refuge in the United Nations compound

• he and his brother are killed in 1996 by Taliban forces

Peshawar Accord

24 april 1992

• it proclaimed that an Afghan interim government called the Islamic State of Afghanistan would start serving on the 28 april 1992

Second Afghan Civil War

1992-1996

• 1992: rebels toppled the Afghan government and fought among themselves

• the conflict was largely armed by US weapons

• the Taliban emerged victorious

The Taliban

an ultraconservative political and religious group that emerged from the Mujahedeen.

• they were led by a former mujahedeen commander: Mohammad Omar. he emerged in 1994 and systematically seized control of the country. he occupied Kabul in 1996

President Rabbani

1992-1996

• he was the leader of the Islamic Society, a major mujahedeen group

• his rival was Gulbuddin Kehmatyar

Taliban rule after 1996

• severely restricted women’s rights

• banned most forms of Western entertainment

• imposed harsh criminal punishment

• they provide sanctuary to extremist groups such as al-Qaeda

• one of Omar’s most infamous decisions was an order to demolish the Buddha statues at Bamiyan

Third Afghan Civil War

1996-2001

• the taliban v the islamic state of afghanistan v the northern alliance

3 countries that recognise the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan

• United Arab Emirates

• Saudi Arabia

• Pakistan

The Northern Alliance

a coalition of Afghan militias formed in the late 1900s to resist the Taliban’s rule. it is made up of Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Turkmens and Pashtuns

• they played a crucial role in supporting the US-led invasion in 2001

• they controlled less than 10% of the country in 2001

role of opium in Afghanistan

• the Taliban controlled 96% of Afghanistan’s poppy fields between 1996 and 1999

• their primary source of income came from taxes on opium exports