DEFINITION

The Taliban 

(Pashto: طالبان‎, ṭālibān, meaning "students"), alternatively spelled Taleban, is an Islamist political movement in Afghanistan. The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s in southern Afghanistan as a movement of religious students (talib) who opposed the influence of the warlords who were fighting for control of the country. The group first gained international attention in September 1996, when it took control of the city of Kabul and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Taliban held power from 1996 to 2001, during which time they imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law. The group was notorious for its human rights abuses, and for their destruction of cultural heritage. In October 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, and the Taliban were overthrown by the NATO-backed Afghan forces.

The Taliban are a Sunni Muslim group, and adhere to the Deobandi school of Islam. The group is closely allied with the Pakistan-based militant organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Since their fall from power, the Taliban have been involved in a number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2011, the Taliban announced their intention to start an insurgency against the Afghan government.

Origins

The Taliban emerged in the early 1990s in southern Afghanistan, as a movement of religious students (talib) who opposed the influence of the warlords who were fighting for control of the country. The group was founded by Mullah Mohammad Omar, who was a student at a madrasa in the city of Kandahar.

In 1994, the Taliban took control of the city of Kandahar, and by September 1996 they had captured the city of Kabul, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban held power from 1996 to 2001, during which time they imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

The Taliban were infamous for their human rights abuses, and for their destruction of cultural heritage. In October 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, and the Taliban were overthrown by the NATO-backed Afghan forces.

Ideology

The Taliban are a Sunni Muslim group, and adhere to the Deobandi school of Islam. The group is closely allied with the Pakistan-based militant organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Since their fall from power, the Taliban have been involved in a number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 2011, the Taliban announced their intention to start an insurgency against the Afghan government.

Structure

The Taliban is a decentralized organization, with no clear-cut hierarchy or leadership. However, Mullah Mohammad Omar is the group's spiritual leader, and the Taliban is closely allied with the Pakistani militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The Taliban are believed to have a few thousand active members, and enjoy popular support among the Pashtun population in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

Racism in Pakistan refers to the discrimination and prejudice faced by various ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan.

  The largest minority in Pakistan is the Hindu community, which constitutes about 2 percent of the population.  Hindus in Pakistan are often subjected to violence and discrimination, and are often denied access to basic rights and services.

  The Christian community in Pakistan is also often subjected to violence and discrimination.  In 2013, a mob of extremists burnt down a Christian neighborhood in the city of Lahore.

  The Sikh community in Pakistan is also a victim of violence and discrimination.  In the year 2014, Islamic extremists beheaded a Sikh man in Peshawar city.

  The Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan is also often subjected to violence and discrimination.  In 2010, a group of Ahmadiyya Muslims were attacked by a mob of extremists in the city of Lahore.

  Apartheid in Pakistan is often created by the political regime as politics.  And the army is always trying to eradicate racism and terrorism.  In 2010, the Pakistani military conducted a series of operations against Pashtun terrorists in the tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan.

  Pakistan has also been accused of harboring and supporting international terrorist organizations like the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, but the Pakistan Army has proved that Pakistan does not support terrorism by wiping out the terrorists.  Terrorist organizations are known to carry out attacks against religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan.  And most of these organizations have come to Pakistan from Afghanistan with racist bias.  For example, Afghan Pathans have expressed hatred towards Punjabis and Sikhs.  Afghanistan refugees mostly become refugees and promote terrorism in different countries.  For example, when a new terrorist is to be sent to a country, first the terrorist shows himself as an Afghan refugee and then starts the work of terrorism and racism in foreign countries.

The government of Pakistan has repeatedly denied allegations of racism and bigotry, and claims to be committed to protecting religious and ethnic minorities.