Name of Organization

Taliban

Formation

The group emerged in the early to mid 1990s, by an Afghan faction of the mujahideen who fought against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989 and were joined by younger Pashtun tribesmen from madrassas in Pakistan.

Leadership

·         Mullah Mohammad Omar:

Mullah Omar.jpg

Mullah Omar[1]

Mullah Omar was the cleric and Ameer-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful) of the Taliban in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. He was titled the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 1996. He is wanted by the US State Department Rewards of Justice Department for giving refuge to the Al-Qaeda leaders after the 9/11 attacks. After the dismantling of the group in 2001, he reconstituted and relocated it in 2002.[2]

·         Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar:

Baradar.jpg

Baradar was the deputy to Mullah Omar and the co-founder of the Taliban Movement in Afghanistan. He was a member of the Taliban’s leadership council. He was in command of the military operations of the Taliban and was in charge of the financial affairs.[3] He was captured by intelligence services in Pakistan in February 2010[4] and was released in 2013.[5]

·         Mullah Obaidullah Akhund:

Obaidullah_Akhund.jpg

Mullah Obaidullah Akhund[6]

Akhund was the member of the leadership council of the Taliban and was the Defense Minister during the Taliban Government in Afghanistan (1996-2001). He was the third highest-ranking commander in the Taliban regime. Akhund was detained in 2002 and released on an agrrement shortly. He was later arrested in 2007 and was released later that year in exchange for the release of prisoners held by the Taliban. Akhund, after his arrest in 2008, died of a heart disease in Pakistan.[7]

·         Arsala Rahmani Daulat:

Rahmani.jpg

Arsala Rahmani[8]

Daulat served as the Deputy Minister for Higher Education during the Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 1998. He was enlisted as a member under the UNSCR 1267. He was the first one to accept reconciliation offer from the Coalition forces after the NATO invasion in Afghanistan. In 2010, he served in the Afghan High Peace Council which attempted to negotiate with the Taliban. He was removed from the UNSCR 1267 designation list in 2011. He was shot dead in Kabul in May 2012.[9]

School of thought/ Classification

Deobandi

Ideology

The Taliban’s ideological foundation was laid upon imposing radicalized Deobandi interpretations of the Shariah law with an influence of the Wahabi doctrine of the madrassas in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime considered any social activity as un-Islamic. Al-Qaeda’s pan-Islamist views are also indoctrinated in the Taliban ideology.[10]

Framework

The current Taliban leadership structure is known as the Quetta Shura which was established after the leadership escaped to Pakistan in 2001 after the US and Northern Alliance offensive against the Taliban. The group was reconstituted as an insurgent movement post-2001 in Quetta, Pakistan led by Mullah Omar. It is the leadership council of the Taliban and maintains an operational authority over the Afghan Taliban.[11]

Financial resources

 

During it early emergence (1996-1998), the Taliban’s activity in the region was funded by the taxation created on poppy/drug trade.[12] However, Mullah Omar later issued a ban on the opium production and the poppy crop was eradicated by the Taliban. After the reconstitution of the Taliban movement in post-2001 era, the Taliban relied on extortion of agricultural tithe from the farmers and levies. Income from illicit mining also contributes to the Taliban’s activities.[13] They also rely on funds from the Middle Eastern Arab countries to gain support and resources. The Taliban release videos of their attacks to gain support from their sympathizers throughout Middle East and Asia. The Haqqani Network has been providing training and weapons to the Taliban since the mid-1990s.[14]

Recruitment tools & demographics

In the initial stages of the emergence of the group, it constituted of the mujahideen fighting against the soviet forces. They were joined by young Pashtun students (talibs) who studied at madrassas in the tribal belt of Pakistan.[15] Their recent strategy of recruitment is not known.

Connections & linkages

The Taliban are linked to:[16]

·         Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)

·         Haqqani Network

·         Al-Qaeda

·         Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan

Areas of Operation

The Taliban carry their operations in the southern provinces of Afghanistan i.e. Helmand, Zabul and Kandahar and the northern provinces of Afghanistan i.e. Laghman, Baghlan, Kunar, Kipsa and Kunduz. Operations in the tribal belt of Pakistan across the border also influence the activity of Afghan Taliban.[17]

Tools 

N/A

Name Variations

The Afghan Taliban

Status

The group was enlisted under UNSCR 1267 in November 1999.[18]

 

Who they are:

The Taliban are a strict Islamist militant group which emerged in the early 1990s in the post-cold war era. The group took control of Kabul in 1996 and was the political leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban gave refuge to the Al-Qaeda leaders after the 9/11 attacks after which the regime was toppled by the coalition of the US and Northern Alliance in October 2001. The group was reconstituted by Mullah Omar, the founder, and was relocated under the leadership council “Quetta Shura” in 2002. The prominent attacks of the Taliban are the September 8, 2006 suicide bombing outside the US Embasy in Kabul, February 27, 2007 suicide attack on the then Vice President Dick Cheney outside Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, the attacks in Kandahar in May 2011 after they announced the “Spring Offensive” and the attack across Afghanistan including the bombings and gun attacks on the Parliament building in April 2011.[19]

History:

The group emerged in 1994 under Mullah and Mullah Baradari. It was formed by the Afghan faction of mujahideen who fought against the Soviet forces during their invasion in Afghanistan. Pashtun students from the madrassas in the tribal belt of Pakistan constituted of the supporters of the Taliban. Initially taking control of the Kandahar city, in 1996 they overthrew the Rabbani regime to assume power in Afghanistan. They established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and imposed a fundamentalist interpretation of the Shariah law. Mullah Omar, the Amir of the Taliban, gave refuge to Osama Bin laden and the Al-Qaeda leaders after the attacks of 9/11. As Mullah Omar refused to hand over Bin Laden to the US, a coalition between the US and the Northern Alliance toppled the Taliban regime in October 2001. Mullah Omar and other prominent leaders of the Taliban escaped to Pakistan. The group was reconstituted under the leadership of Mullah Omar in the capital city of the province of Balochistan, Quetta in 2002. A leadership council was formed under Mullah Omar, the Quetta Shura, which now administers the operations of the Taliban in Afghanistan.[20]

Organization’s Message:

The Taliban sought to strictly impose the Wahabi interpretations of the Shariah law in Afghanistan, neglecting any social activity as un-Islamic. The Taliban believing in an orthodox interpretation of Islam, they required the women to cover themselves in full veils and forbade them from coming to public place without a male guardian, they shut down the girls’ schools, required men to wear a turban and have long beards, jailed men for short beards and banned music on the basis that it is against the Islamic code.[21]

Target Audience:

The Taliban emerged, with the Afghan faction of the mujahideen who fought the Soviet forces in Afghanistan and young Pashtun tribesmen who were students at the madrassas in FATA.

Tools:

N/A

Splinter Groups:

N/A

Annexure

Al-Qaeda:

The organization was formed in late 80s by Osama Bin Laden who had come to Afghanistan to fight against the Soviet forces. The literal meaning of Al-Qaeda is “The Base”. Al-Qaeda’s network includes outfits which are operating in estimated 65 countries worldwide. The group propagates armed militancy against Western countries and their allies in the Muslim World.

Deobandi:

These are a significant group of Muslims present in the sub-continent, who adhere to the Sunni sect and follow the ideology of Imam Abu Hanifah. The school of thought is named after University of Deoband Dar-ul-Aloom in India. They believe in safeguarding the teachings of Islam, while spreading the religion through preaching.[22] TTP has its own extremist version of this ideology, where it justifies the use of force and violence to enact Shariah law within the country. It also demands Pakistani state’s disassociation from the coalition for war on terror.[23]

Wahabi:

They are also termed as Ahle-Hadiths/Salafis. They belong to the larger group of Sunni Islam. They adhere to the teachings of Islam enshrined by the Quran and Sunnah and reject what has not been enjoined by the Islamic Shariah. They do not believe in sectarian jurisprudence.[24]

Northern Alliance:

The Northern Alliance is an anti-Taliban non-Pashtun political forces that aligned against the Taliban in 1996. This alliance is headed by ethnic Tajik president, Burhuddin Rabbani, and composed of Jamiat-i-Islami forces and ethnic Uzbek Junbish-i-Milli party.[25] They, with the coalition of the US forces toppled the Taliban reign in 2001.

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU):

IMU is an Islamic militant group that seeks to install the Shariah law in Uzbekistan. It operates in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and has been linked to the Al-Qaeda training camps, financial bodies and weapons exchange.[26]

Haqqani Network:

The Haqqani Network is an insurgent group using guerrilla warfare to fight the US-led NATO forces and the government of Afghanistan. It operates from its strategic havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has been involved in various high-profile attacks in Afghanistan. Shortly before the Taliban gained power in Kabul, the network aligned itself with them.[27]

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan:

TTP is a South Waziristan based conglomerate of various militant outfits. Various tribal affiliations makeup for a considerable strength within the organization, however due to tribal frictions the relations with local commanders remain volatile. It has established chapters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas, which are led by local commanders. The organization is believed to have created cross-sectional working groups with other violent extremist organizations throughout Pakistan. These groups consist of 10 – 15 members each and have assisted in expanding the operations of the outfit. TTP has its own extremist version of Deobandi ideology, where it justifies the use of force and violence to enact Shariah law within the country. It also demands Pakistani state’s disassociation from the coalition for war on terror.[28]

Shariah:

Shariah which is the body of Islam is actually "way" or "path". It is the lawful skeleton within which the both the public and private aspects of life are monitored for those following Islam as their religion. Shariah deals with all aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, and social issues. There is not a strictly codified uniform set of laws that can be called Shariah. It is more like a system of several laws, based on the Qur'an, Hadith and centuries of debate, interpretation and precedent.[29]


 

[1] The New Yorker. Steve Cole; “Looking for Mullah Omar”. January 23, 2012. Date of access: July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/01/23/looking-for-mullah-omar

[2] Council on Foreign Relations. Zachary Laub. July 4, 2014. The Taliban in Afghanistan. Date of Access: June 30, 2015. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

[3] BBC News. Profile: Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. February 17, 2010. Date of access: July 3, 2015. Retrieved from:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8517693.stm

[4] BBC News. Taliban commander Mullah Baradar ‘seized in Pakistan’. February 16, 2015. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8517375.stm

[5] Dawn News. Pakistan to free top Taliban prisoner Mullah Baradar. September 21, 2013. Date of access: July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.dawn.com/news/1044245/pakistan-frees-top-taliban-prisoner-mullah-baradar-today

[6] DAWN. Ismail Khan; “Mullah Omar’s Deputy Obaidullah Captured.” March 2, 2007. Date of access: July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.dawn.com/news/235474/mullah-omar

[7] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015.  Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[8] Al-Jazeera. Profile: Arala Rahmani. Date of access: July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/05/201251391319716525.html

[9] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[10] Council on Foreign Relations. Zachary Laub. July 4, 2014. The Taliban in Afghanistan. Date of Access: June 30, 2015.Retrieved from: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

[11]  Council on Foreign Relations. Zachary Laub. July 4, 2014. The Taliban in Afghanistan. Date of Access: June 30, 2015.Retrieved from: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

[12] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[13] Council on Foreign Relations. Zachary Laub. July 4, 2014. The Taliban in Afghanistan. Date of Access: June 30, 2015.Retrieved from: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

[14] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[15] Council on Foreign Relations. Zachary Laub. July 4, 2014. The Taliban in Afghanistan. Date of Access: June 30, 2015.Retrieved from: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551

[16] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[17] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[19] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[20] Mapping Militant Organizations. The Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015.  Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/367

[21] South Asia Terrorism Portal. Taliban. Date of access:  July 3, 2015.  Retrieved from: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/usa/Taliban.htm

[22] South Asia Terrorism Portal. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/ttp.htm

[23] Mapping Militant Organizations. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/105#note28

[25] FAS. Intelligence Resource Program Northern Alliance. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://fas.org/irp/world/para/northern_alliance.htm

[26] Mapping Militant Organizations. Al-Qaeda. Date of access:  July 3, 2015. Retrieved from: http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/21#note8