Info:
The Taliban or Taleban, who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), are a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan currently waging war (an insurgency, or jihad) within that country. Since 2016, the Taliban’s leader is Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada;
The Taliban have been condemned internationally for the harsh enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which has resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans, especially women. During their rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban and their allies committed massacres against Afghan civilians, denied UN food supplies to 160,000 starving civilians and conducted a policy of scorched earth, burning vast areas of fertile land and destroying tens of thousands of homes;
According to the United Nations, the Taliban and their allies were responsible for 76% of Afghan civilian casualties in 2010, 80% in 2011, and 80% in 2012. Taliban has also engaged in cultural genocide, destroying numerous monuments including the famous 1500-year old Buddhas of Bamiyan;
Iranian Regime is training the Talibans, Iran is operating training facilities in Kermanshah. Rifle ranges, mosques and mess halls buzz with activity in this Iranian province. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) trainers man the sites and these trainers are from the Quds Force — the special forces division of the (IRGC). One trainee told that there were between 500 and 600 recruits at the camp. The trainees learn tactics, leadership skills and recruitment. More practical terrorist elements include bomb making and weapons training. The soldiers receive next-generation Russian weaponry before heading home to Afghanistan. The Taliban claims that Iran has offered 300 recruit visas in each of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces;
Iran is directly funding and providing arms to the Taliban as the Iranian regime sees Farah as part of its strategic interest;
This support from Iran makes it less likely that the Taliban will engage in peace talks that could end the conflict, despite the fact that US-backed President Ashraf Ghani has offered unconditional talks;
Also to mention that large amount of Iran-made weapons have been obtained in recent fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban, according to the police chief of Afghanistan’s Pektika Province;
Iranian cleric Mohsen Araki, who is the Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, said at a press conference that Tehran has invited moderate figures such as Taliban to attend the two-day International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran. Araki said that “the invitation was sent to some Islamic and political figures in the Taliban movement who believe in the unity of Muslims,” stressing that “Iran has always held contacts with some parties in the Taliban movement, who believe in the Islamic unity.”;
Iran continues to provide the Taliban with missiles to hit Afghan forces, because ten rockets were fired by the Taliban at government headquarters in Helmand province, which borders Pakistan, and that the inscription on the missiles showed that they were made in Iran;
Afghan officials added that Iranian-made missiles launched by the Taliban were found in clashes that took place in the cities of Krmesar and Sunken;
The Iranian offer of training came with two demands: that the Taliban should put more focus on attacking American and NATO interests in Afghanistan, and devote more forces to attacking the Daesh [Islamic State];
Iranian Regime is increasing its support of the Taliban following Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, according to Afghan officials;
Also Known As:
Taleban
Established:
1994-1996 (militia)
1996-2001 (government)
2002-present (insurgency)
Country:
Afghanistan
Person of interests:
Mohammed Omar (founder, 1994-2013)
Hibatullah Akhundzada (current leader, 2016-present)
Mullah Muhammad Rasul (splinter faction, 2015-present)
Reason for the color:
» Treasury sanctions eight for ties to Taliban, Iran militia;
» U.S. sanction Iran Quds Force members for aiding Taliban’s;
» Iran training Taliban to attack U.S.;
» Taliban’s best fighters being trained by Iran;