Afghanistan Overview
Rise of the Taliban and Regional Conflicts
For more than 20 years, war has consumed Afghanistan. In 1979, the Soviet Union launched an invasion of the country in order to prop up a pro-communist regime in Kabul. The United States and Pakistan played leading roles backing various Afghan guerrilla forces, known collectively as "mujahidin" (religious warriors), which gradually wore down the Soviet occupying force. Taliban Power Consolidation Afghanistan’s civil war continued after a Soviet pullout in 1989 as various mujahidin factions fought to fill the power vacuum. In the past four years, a newer group called the Taliban has gained control of most of Afghanistan. The Taliban,…
