Who are the Taliban of Afghanistan?
October 5, 1996 Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EDT (0245 GMT) From Correspondent Anita Pratap KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — From students to conquerors, the Taliban Islamic militia have come a long way, and fast. In just two years, the Taliban have captured more than two-thirds of Afghanistan from the Mujahedeen warriors who had fought Soviet occupation. The Taliban’s success has much to do with the unpopularity of the Mujahedeen in recent years. (21 sec./830K QuickTime movie) The Taliban emerged as a reformist force — honest, fierce and devoutly Islamic. Most had gone as refugees to Pakistan, where they studied in the religious schools. The Taliban are widely alleged to be the creation of Pakistan’s military intelligence. Experts say that explains the Taliban’s swift military successes. They emerged as the new rulers of this war-ravaged nation when they captured the Afghan capital, Kabul, last month. Kabul is important because of its strategic location. It is the gateway to the Indian subco
