Life Under the Taliban Essay -- Taliban Afghanistan Middle East Essay

Life Under the Taliban Afghanistan is one of the poorest and most troubled countries in the world. The land that occupies Afghanistan has a long history of domination by foreign conquerors and strife among internally warring factions. At the gateway between Asia and Europe, this land was conquered by Darius I of Babylonia circa 500 B.C., and Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 329 B.C., among others. In recent years, war and lawlessness had destroyed much of the country; millions of people went into exile and brought its economy to a standstill. This paper looks to explore the recent history of Afghanistan, how the Taliban came to power, and the impact their Islamic laws had on the Afghanistan society including their treatment of women. Brief History During the imperial days Afghanistan became a buffer zone when both Britain and Russia agreed that an incursion into Afghanistan would be considered a declaration of war against each other. Both respected this arrangement. After Britain's departure from the region, Russians increased their influence in Afghanistan with help and support from India, which wanted to keep Pakistan carved out of British India in 1947. Meanwhile, the Russians believed that the Americans, who replaced Britain as the new superpower, were too far away from this region to get physically involved. So in 1979, when the pro-soviet communist regime in Kabul showed signs of weakness, the Soviet Union sent its troops into Afghanistan. They faced no resistance and captured the entire country in a few days. However, the Soviets were mistaken about the United States response to their invasion. The Americans did not like the Soviet presence in Afghanistan as it could have allowed the Soviet Union to have undue influence in South Asia and the oil rich Middle East. In engaging the Russians in Afghanistan, the Americans also saw an opportunity to avenge their defeat in Vietnam. The Pakistanis were equally keen to prevent the Russians from strengthening their position in Afghanistan, particularly because of the theory, which was popular at the time, that Moscow wanted to reach the warm waters of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Many in Islamabad believed that after consolidating themselves in Afghanistan, the Russians would make a move to take over Pakistani city of Karachi, the nearest seaport for the former soviet Central Asia. Pakist... ...essed 08 February 10, 2004. ?A Job Half Done In Afghanistan?.The New York Times, May 15,2003, Baldauf, Scott. and Tohid, Owais.?Taliban Appears to be regrouped and well funded?. Christian Science Monitor, May 8,2003, Baldauf, Scott. and Tohid, Owais.? Where taliban go to find warm beds and results?. Christian Science Monitor, December 11,2003, Black, Andrew.?Talibans Rise Was Fueled By International Community?.The Press Association Limited, September 30, 2003 Goodson, P. Larry. Afghanistans endless war.United States of America:Univeristy of Washington Press, 2001. Hilton, Elizabeth.?Just Poppycock?.The Guardian, December 11, 2003 ?How The Taliban Erased History; One Year After Taliban Forces Savaged Afghanistan?s Two Celebrated Buddahs, The Story Of Their Destruction Has Emerged?. Washington Post.March 16,2002 Kramer, Martin.?The Camera and The Burqa?.Middle East Quarterly, March 1,2002 Nojumi, Neamatollah.The rise of the taliban in afghanistan.New York,NY:Palgrave, 2002. ?Taliban Comeback in Afghanistan?. Mideast Mirror October 10, 2003 Tompkins,Richard. ?Analysis:Afghanistan 2 years later.? United Press International, September 14, 2003,p8 Life Under the Taliban Essay -- Taliban Afghanistan Middle East Essay Life Under the Taliban Afghanistan is one of the poorest and most troubled countries in the world. The land that occupies Afghanistan has a long history of domination by foreign conquerors and strife among internally warring factions. At the gateway between Asia and Europe, this land was conquered by Darius I of Babylonia circa 500 B.C., and Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 329 B.C., among others. In recent years, war and lawlessness had destroyed much of the country; millions of people went into exile and brought its economy to a standstill. This paper looks to explore the recent history of Afghanistan, how the Taliban came to power, and the impact their Islamic laws had on the Afghanistan society including their treatment of women. Brief History During the imperial days Afghanistan became a buffer zone when both Britain and Russia agreed that an incursion into Afghanistan would be considered a declaration of war against each other. Both respected this arrangement. After Britain's departure from the region, Russians increased their influence in Afghanistan with help and support from India, which wanted to keep Pakistan carved out of British India in 1947. Meanwhile, the Russians believed that the Americans, who replaced Britain as the new superpower, were too far away from this region to get physically involved. So in 1979, when the pro-soviet communist regime in Kabul showed signs of weakness, the Soviet Union sent its troops into Afghanistan. They faced no resistance and captured the entire country in a few days. However, the Soviets were mistaken about the United States response to their invasion. The Americans did not like the Soviet presence in Afghanistan as it could have allowed the Soviet Union to have undue influence in South Asia and the oil rich Middle East. In engaging the Russians in Afghanistan, the Americans also saw an opportunity to avenge their defeat in Vietnam. The Pakistanis were equally keen to prevent the Russians from strengthening their position in Afghanistan, particularly because of the theory, which was popular at the time, that Moscow wanted to reach the warm waters of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Many in Islamabad believed that after consolidating themselves in Afghanistan, the Russians would make a move to take over Pakistani city of Karachi, the nearest seaport for the former soviet Central Asia. Pakist... ...essed 08 February 10, 2004. ?A Job Half Done In Afghanistan?.The New York Times, May 15,2003, Baldauf, Scott. and Tohid, Owais.?Taliban Appears to be regrouped and well funded?. Christian Science Monitor, May 8,2003, Baldauf, Scott. and Tohid, Owais.? Where taliban go to find warm beds and results?. Christian Science Monitor, December 11,2003, Black, Andrew.?Talibans Rise Was Fueled By International Community?.The Press Association Limited, September 30, 2003 Goodson, P. Larry. Afghanistans endless war.United States of America:Univeristy of Washington Press, 2001. Hilton, Elizabeth.?Just Poppycock?.The Guardian, December 11, 2003 ?How The Taliban Erased History; One Year After Taliban Forces Savaged Afghanistan?s Two Celebrated Buddahs, The Story Of Their Destruction Has Emerged?. Washington Post.March 16,2002 Kramer, Martin.?The Camera and The Burqa?.Middle East Quarterly, March 1,2002 Nojumi, Neamatollah.The rise of the taliban in afghanistan.New York,NY:Palgrave, 2002. ?Taliban Comeback in Afghanistan?. Mideast Mirror October 10, 2003 Tompkins,Richard. ?Analysis:Afghanistan 2 years later.? United Press International, September 14, 2003,p8