Today We Learn About: Taliban & al-Qaeda

Taliban refers to a fundamentalist muslim political group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The group’s name literally means, “students” and grew as a response to the area’s turbulent times under Russian rule. The Taliban are known for the strict code of conduct that was required of their citizens, and for their protection of al-Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden. Both groups have undertaken acts of terrorism against western targets, and have sought to unite Muslims under the banner of jihad over the years. Taliban had initially posed itself as a political group, with al-Qaeda serving as a sort of military wing.