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Timeline: The Taliban
Key dates in the history of the Taliban and Contemporary Afghanistan
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by Laura Hayes and Borgna Brunner
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| 1979 |
- Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.
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| 1980 |
- Soviet troops install a puppet regime in Kabul. The U.S., Pakistan, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia offer support to mujahideen "freedom fighters" as they begin a guerrilla war against the Soviets.
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| 1988–1989 |
- Soviet troops withdraw.
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| 1992 |
- Mujahideen forces, led by Ahmed Shah Massoud, remove the Soviet-backed government of Mohammad Najibullah. Rival militias vie for influence.
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| 1993 |
- The factions agree on the formation of a government with Burhanuddin Rabbani as president, but infighting continues. Lawlessness is rampant.
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| 1994 |
- September
- The Taliban are appointed by Pakistan to protect a trade convoy and quickly emerge as one of the strongest factions.
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| 1996 |
- September
- The Taliban, under the leadership of Mullah Muhammad Omar, seize control of Kabul and implement a strict interpretation of Islamic law. They exile President Rabbani and execute Najibullah.
- The Taliban offer Osama bin Laden refuge.
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| 1997 |
- Sept.–Oct.
- The Taliban fail to capture and hold the city of Mazar-i-Sharif (held sacred by Shiites as the site of Ali's grave). Pakistani religious schools send reinforcements to the Taliban.
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| 1998 |
- Aug. 20
- The U.S. launches missiles at suspected bin Laden bases in retaliation for the bombing of embassies in Africa.
- Sept. 13
- The Taliban take over the city of Bamian.
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| 1999 |
- March
- A UN-brokered peace agreement is reached between the Taliban and their main remaining foe, the Northern Alliance under Ahmed Shah Massoud. Fighting breaks out again in July.
- October
- The Taliban take Mazar-i-Sharif. There are unconfirmed reports of mass arrests and executions (numbering in the thousands) of Shiites, especially of the Hazara ethnic group.
- November
- The U.N. imposes an air embargo and freezes Taliban assets in an attempt to force them to hand over bin Laden for trial.
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| 2000 |
- Record cold, drought, and civil war push an estimated 200,000 more Afghans into refugee camps.
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Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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