Cause and effects of Taliban Essay

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was part of a long term cause of the cause the of Taliban. The foreign influence that was exerted by the Soviet Union shaped the foreign and domestic policies in Afghanistan. The social and political impacts of communism and the Cold War put Afghanistan’s government in a very weak and unstable state. This made it easy for the allowing of the extremist group the Taliban to take over weaker groups and take power in 1994. Since the government was so unstable it caused the rise and fall of various political groups and leaders and a period of unrest and changes of power as well as war.  Afghanistan rejected Western influence after years of colonization under British rule and took political and financial aid from the USSR this close relationship between he countries led to the spread of communist ideas to Afghani leadership. Since Afghanistan suffered a severe famine that killed in estimate of 500,000 civilians the new communist platform progressed and offered hope to the Afghans.   Afghanistan being in such a horrible state and so desperate for hope the group most likely to fill the power void was the Taliban that controlled over 85% of the country. The internal factors contributed to the Taliban success because the Afghan people were just exhausted and had their own chronic state of corruption and insecurity. The Taliban became strong enough and took over the capital Kabul in1996 after locking down the country with their military strength. The Fall of the Taliban The Taliban’s involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001 terroist attacks on the US led to the US invasions into Afghanistan that displaced the Taliban government and forced them out of power. Effects Rise of the Taliban The Taliban then issued a radical reform to restore Afghanistan’s conservative culture. They enforced strict laws of Islam in daily life which included restrictions on alcohol, prayer, entertainment, and daily living. Televisions, alcohol, radio, dancing, and shaving beards were outlawed. The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 on the Twin Towers in New York City effected the United States greatly. Taliban cruelly reduced women and girls to poverty, worsened their health, and deprived them of their right to an education, and many times to practice their religion.   Afghanistan under the Taliban had one of the worst human right records in the world.