RISE OF THE EVILS - ‘THE TALIBANS’
Let's rewind the near history to Know who are ‘The Taliban’s’. In the third Anglo-Afghan war nearly 1,20,000 invaded India and there were brief clashes with the British. At the end a treaty was made which gave Afghanistan the status of fully independent State. Later in the year 1926 the country was reformed into the kingdom of Afghanistan and began the process of modernization and increased contacts with the outside world. In the year 1973 the monarchy was overthrown in a bloodless coup d’état by the king Zahir khan’s cousin Mohammed Daud Khan who became the president of a single party republic. He sought to further modernize the country and received support from the Soviet Union. In the year 1978 with the help of invasion of soviet troops communist party formed the government in Afghanistan. This communist government provided a wide range of freedom to women, emphasis on education for women and even women were working in the government. These modernizations created a domestic rebellion in the country. As a result, in the year 1978 President Mohammed Daud Khan was assassinated and it created an Afghan war among the Anticommunist Islamic guerrillas (mujahideen) and communist government of Afghanistan. In order to protect the Communist government in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union deployed its troops. In the Mid 1979 United States started supporting the Anti-Soviet Afghans known as Mujahideen. US and Saudi Arabia provided billions in cash and weapons to Mujahideen fighters through Pakistan’s ISI. The war lasted for about 10 years. Finally in 1989 the Soviet army withdrew troops from Afghanistan.
Later conflicts arose within the Mujahideen as to who will rule the country which led to the civil war and many people left the Mujahideen and joined with commander Mullah Mohammed Omar and formed the Taliban’s in the year 1994. In 1996 these Taliban’s captured the capital city of Afghanistan Kabul and established the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan. They enforced the strict interpretation of Sharia. There was no equality between men and ladies. Men were forced to maintain a beard. Women were not allowed to come out of their homes without male guards. Women were denied education. They were not allowed to work. Even some were threatened to have forced relationships. People were prohibited from watching movies, listening to music etc. In 2001 Osama Bin Laden with the aid of Talibans attacked the US and on September 11 Twin towers attack was held. America demanded the Talibans to hand over Osama Bin laden, but the Talibans refused.
As a result, in 2001 American troops invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban’s. New Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai was formed. This established Islamic republic of Afghanistan in 2004. Official constitution was drafted on January 26, 2004. First elections were held, and Karzai won more than 50% of the total votes. Even Though the Talibans were ousted from the country they continued enlarging their troops. The Taliban regroup within the south and east, also as across the border in Pakistan, and launch an insurgency. They got their revenue from opium trade and other drugs. Later in the year 2006 Talibans increased committing atrocities against civilians. They adopted the method of suicide bombing. As the attacks increased US president Barack Obama sent more troops to Afghanistan. Later in 2011 Osama Bin Laden was killed by special troops of the US. In 2011 Obama announced the beginning of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. In 2020 the US agreed to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May 2021. And as said earlier troops started withdrawing from Afghanistan. On 13th April 2021 a few days before America started withdrawing its troops more than 10 districts were under the control of Talibans. By July 13th they occupied more than 90% of the entire Afghanistan. And finally on August 15, 2021, they captured the capital Kabul and took the entire Afghanistan under its control.
FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN
Now we are having an idea how these Talibans came into force. So, what do these Talibans want to do? What is their aim? What would the future of Afghanistan look like? The Taliban people were educated with traditional Islamic laws. They want to enforce the strict interpretation of Sharia law among the people of Afghanistan. They strongly believed that a Muslim should live only in accordance with the Sharia Law. But Sharia is not a law itself. It is not a set of statues or provisions. It contains rules or guidance for Living. It is God's will for humankind. It describes how a Muslim should live in his/her lifetime. These mere obligations can't be implemented by the ruler of the country. The sharia was not created to help the government in ruling the Muslim people rather it provide guidance for Muslims as to way of living. But these Talibans want to implement these Sharia laws in the country. Moreover, there is Islamic jurisprudence called as Fiqh which is believed to be the human understanding of Sharia. And these Talibans here want to implement their own Fiqh of Sharia.
During their rule from 1996 to 2001 Women rights were greatly affected. They were not allowed to go out alone. They were not allowed to wear what they want. They were not allowed to get education. Many women were forced to get married with the Talibans. Anyone who disobeying these rules were even beaten in front of public. Men were forced to maintain beard. All types of entertainment were banned including movies and music. They do not believe in democracy. They will elect their own leader and make him to rule the country. Afghans human rights were in question. As soon as they took control of Afghanistan, they removed the women models’ pictures from the shop walls. They released the terrorists in the prison. They are roaming around the roads with weapons. People afraid to come out of their houses. If they really want to protect the people, why do they need to roam with weapons. If they are really in the idea of giving equal rights to women, why they're removing the Women models pictures from the walls of the store. If women were forced to come out only with male guard what would be the state of an unmarried women and widows. Don't the women have rights to live alone? Don't they have freedom to go wherever they want. This Taliban rule will entirely curtail the freedom of the civilians. Not only women even this is dangerous to other nationals living in Afghanistan. Right to freedom of religion, right to live will be at great risk.
CONCLUSION
Even though the Taliban spokesperson during an audio interview with BBC News told that they will provide freedom to women to do their education, but he added that 'in accordance with Sharia law'.