AFGHANISTAN: Religious Conflict

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AFGHANISTANReligious Conflict

• A PowerPoint Presentation
• by
• James Kalinowski

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General Information

• Internationally Recognized Leader Burhanuddin
  Rabbani
• The Islamic State of Afghanistan has no
  functioning government at this time, and the
  country remains divided among fighting factions.
• National capital Kabul

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Geography

• Total Area 647,500 sq. km
• Border Countries China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
  Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km,
  Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
• Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, coal,
  copper, talc, barite, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron
  ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
• Climate arid to semiarid cold winters and hot
  summers

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People

• Population 23,738,085
• Ethnic groups Pashtun 38, Tajik 25, Uzbek 6,
  Hazara 19, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen,
  Baloch, and others)
• Religions Sunni Muslim 84, Shi'a Muslim 15,
  other 1
• Languages Pashtu 35, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50,
  Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen)
  11, 30 minor languages 4, much bilingualism

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Economy

• GDP purchasing power parity - 18.1 billion
• GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - 800
• Inflation rate - consumer price index 240

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History of Afghanistan

• Afghanistan has an ancient history dating back to
  50,000 BC.
• Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, and Marco Polo have been
  involved in Afghan history.
• Afghanistan was once occupied by Great Britain.

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Recent History

• A Communist coup, backed by the Soviet Union,
  breaks out in 1978.
• The Mujahideen, the Afghan guerilla movement,
  defeated the Soviets.
• In 1994, the Taliban Movement is established.

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Taliban

• The Taliban are led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, who
  started this Islamic Fundamentalist movement in
  1994.
• The Taliban want a Pure Islamic State.
• The Taliban have declared themselves the
  legitimate government of Afghanistan.
• The Taliban have been recognized by Pakistan,
  Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• The Taliban controls the predominately ethnic
  Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan.

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Goals of the Taliban

• Restore Peace in Afghanistan
• Immediate termination of all kinds of foreign
  interference.
• Resignation of Burhanuddin Rabbani.
• Demilitarization of Kabul.
• Formation of a National Security Force.
• Confiscation of all weapons from present armed
  factions.
• Convening an assembly of elected representatives
  of the Afghan people for the formation of a
  National Islamic Government.

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Northern Alliance

• Northern Alliance factions have their stronghold
  at Mazar-I-Sharif.
• General Dostam's National Islamic Movement
  controls several north-central provinces.
• Commander Masood controls the ethnic Tajik
  majority areas of the northeast.

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The New Proxy War

• On 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the
  Afghan Government were displaced by members of
  the Islamic Taliban movement.
• The Taliban have battled the Northern Alliance
  village by village, capturing 2/3 of Afghanistan.

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Capturing Kabul

• The former government, still recognized, was
  ousted by the Taliban.
• The Head of the Kabul Council is Mohammad
  Rabbani, second in command in the Taliban.
• The capital is torn because of ongoing violence.
• Members of the Taliban opposition in Kabul have
  been arrested.

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More Fighting

• Some support from Rabbani and Masood to
  anti-government Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's
  civil war.
• People in Uzbekistan were fired upon during
  battles on the northern border.
• If fighting spreads, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
  Russia, and Iran may get involved.

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EARTHQUAKE!

• Two earthquakes have severely weakened the
  Northern Alliance Opposition.
• Thousands have died and villages have been
  destroyed.
• The Taliban Road Blockade has stopped
  international relief efforts.
• Thousands of Victims have set up temporary
  villages.

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The Peace Process

• The United States, Pakistan, and Russia have
  called on the Taliban to negotiate with the
  Northern Alliance.
• Many international diplomats suggest a coalition
  government.
• Former Prime Minister and Islamic Party Leader
  Golbuddin Hekmatyar called for free elections in
  December 1997.

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Complications of Peace

• The Northern Alliance Opposition is opposed to
  peace talks held in Pakistan.
• Both Iran and Pakistan must be in favor of peace
  in Afghanistan before it may be reached.
• Certain Groups in the Northern Alliance are at
  war with each other.
• Question over which group should hold
  Afghanistan's seat at the UN.

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The Future of Afghanistan
?

• OR

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THE END