The Conflict

From 1978 to 1992, the Afghanistan government was Communist and closely allied with the Soviet Union. The United States funded and armed rebels fighting the Communists—the mujadin. The mujadin were Islamic fundamentalists, and when the Soviet Union withdrew and the Afghani government fell, the mujadin established strict Islamic law, shari'a.

Religious

• The Taliban, leaders of the organization ruling much of Afghanistan, believe in strict Islamic law.

Political

• Many people around the world believe the regime is denying its citizens their basic human rights.
• Western nations have charged that Afghanistan harbors and supports terrorists.
• The Taliban believes the U.S. betrayed it by ending funding and support after the end of the Cold War.

In 1996 a radical Muslim sect known as the Taliban successfully captured Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul...