Write an essay in which you discuss the Russian war in Afghanistan, and the subsequent rise of the Taliban

Question

In your discussion, please consider the primary causes of the war, the key players involved, and the Taliban's effect on the country's cultural landscape.

Answer 1

In 1978, a "revolutionary council," supported by the USSR, seized power in Afghanistan. This Marxist government suppressed religion, which caused a rebellion in Afghanistan, where most people are Muslim. This led to a collapse of the government, and led to the USSR invading Afghanistan. In spite of its size and power, the Soviet military was never able to control all of the region, especially the more rugged areas. A loose coalition consisting of the U.S., Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia armed and funded anti-Soviet forces, increasing the duration and intensity of the conflict. In 1989, the Soviets withdrew their troops and left their puppet government to face the insurgents. Eventually, warlords took over, with the Taliban, a religious group, took over and put in place an Islamic regime whose interpretation of the religion was extreme. The Taliban's power comes both from its religious affiliation, but also from its link to the Pashtun ethnic group, which is the largest group in Afghanistan.