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The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 was the first military action of the War on Terror. Its aims were to destroy al-Qaeda, capture Osama bin Laden, and remove the Taliban regime that had sheltered the terrorists responsible for 9/11. This lesson examines the invasion and its immediate aftermath.
Afghanistan had been in a state of conflict for over two decades. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, a civil war raged until the Taliban seized power in 1996.
| Key Facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Taliban | An extreme Islamist movement; mostly ethnic Pashtun |
| Leader | Mullah Mohammed Omar |
| Ideology | Strict interpretation of Sharia law; ultra-conservative social policies |
| Rule | Banned music, television, kite-flying; destroyed Buddhist statues at Bamiyan |
| Women | Denied education, employment, and freedom of movement; required to wear the burqa |
| Al-Qaeda alliance | Provided safe haven for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda training camps |
| International recognition | Only three countries recognised the Taliban government (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE) |
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