Taliban Rule and the Ethnic Factor in Afghanistan

Abstract

The ethnic factor that was long been contributing to the socio-cultural mosaic of Afghanistan was interpreted in political terms since the Soviet occupation of that country. It became more expressive during the civil war among the Mujahideen (Islamic Holy Warriors) factions and their leaders after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The rise and rule of Taliban further promoted that element despite their religious Islamist orientation. The Taliban, predominantly a movement of Pashto speaking Islamists adopted antagonistic approach towards the non-Pashtun ethnic communities of particularly, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras. The heightening of ethnic tensions and the alienation of ethnic minorities cost Afghanistan the ripping up of its relative peace which the Taliban first proclaimed during their emergence. The current research focuses this aspect of Taliban domestic policies and actions and highlights their religio-ethnic political discourse for consolidating and legitimizing their own power. It also analyzes the resistance of ethnic minorities against Taliban’s hegemony. Such an uncertain political situation, lawlessness and violent domestic conflict had left great imprints on the future course of events in Afghanistan because it attracted a global war against terrorism to the country and the ethnic minorities exploited the new situation to its own advantage after 9/11. The question this research work tries to address is that why the Taliban being a religious driven force exacerbated the ethnic problem and what were the consequences of the ‘Afghans against Afghans’ policy?