The Taliban - Research Paper Example

forces from Afghanistan. (McNamara, Melissa “The Taliban in Afghanistan) It is important to note that there are two factions of the Taliban existing within countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. With the Pakistan faction going rogue and, although identifying itself with the Taliban, it actually has a totally different mission and goal than its Afghan counterpart. But in order to understand why the differing goals exist, one must first understand the history of the group. The Taliban can be considered to be religious fanatics who are trying to advance their religious goals and beliefs across the Middle Eastern world.

The leader of the Taliban was Mullah Mohammed Omar. A reclusive leader who heads the terrorist group together with 8-10 other colleagues, all of whom are survivors of the Russian war and occupation of Afghanistan in the 1970's. Their governing rules are overseen by the Ministry of Virtue and Vice, often considered to be a religious police force. (McNamara, Melissa “The Taliban in Afghanistan”). The group originally emerged as one of the mujaheddin or holy warriors in the region. (Hayes, Laura, Brunner, Borgina, and Rowen Beth “Who Are The Taliban?”) This group has every intention of establishing a radical Sunni Islamic regime in Afghanistan.

The Taliban as a group should not be confused with the Taliban Militia that was established in 1994. (McNamara, Melissa “The Taliban in Afghanistan”) In Pakistan however, The Taliban Group there has taken on the name “Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan”, a group with known links and ties to the Al Qeada. Although it shares similar ideologies with the Afghan Taliban group, the group is known as a stand alone group with different goals from the original. According to Raza Rumi, director of policy and programs at the Jinnah Institute, the primary target of the group is the Pakistan military.

The goal of the group is the removal of the U.S. troops from the area and they would like to see the imposition of the Sharia in Pakistan. (Brumfield, Ben “Who Are The Pakistani Taliban?”). Since the group is a breakaway faction, it lacks the organized structure of the original and is instead a coordinated militia. Due to the radical religious beliefs of the Taliban, they would rather become known as religious terrorists who use the holy war or Jihad to propagate religious war over their perceived enemies.

However, nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing religious about their terrorist activities. The key to their terrorist campaign is the use of violence. (“Types of Terrorism”) However, the most common form of terrorism that the Taliban uses can be seen in the way that they need to acquire funding for their terrorist activities. The group has been known to employ the use of roadside bombings in Afghanistan and Pakistan when attacking the U.S. troops stationed there. The group is also not beyond using arson and firebombings in order to quash their targets.

However, the group, due to the lack of funds through their bank accounts and other channels of receiving financing having been effectively cut off by the international community, has taken to kidnapping and hostage taking for ransom in order to keep their organization afloat and their terror activities