Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)

Part of the War in Afghanistan and
the Global War on Terrorism

The situation in Afghanistan in late 1996

Date	27 September 1996 – 7 October 2001 (1,836 days / 5 years 10 days)
Location	Afghanistan
Result	Taliban government capture of Kabul and the majority of Afghanistan Continued clashes until the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan; fall of the Taliban government and destruction of al-Qaeda training camps

Belligerents

Islamic Emirate
(Taliban)
Al-Qaeda

055 Brigade

Supported by:

Saudi Arabia

Pakistan

Islamic State
(Northern Alliance)
Supported by:

Iran

India

Turkey

Commanders and leaders

LTG Naseem Rana

A.S. Massoud †

Qari Baba

Arif Noorzai

Haji M. Mohaqeq

Rashid Dostum

Ismail Khan

Islamic Emirate
(Taliban)
Al-Qaeda

The Afghan Civil War fought between 1996 and 2001 was part of the wider War in Afghanistan ongoing since 1978. In 1996 the Taliban captured the Afghan capital Kabul and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Islamic State of Afghanistan government remained the internationally recognized government of Afghanistan. The Taliban's Emirate received recognition only from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The defense minister of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Massoud, created the United Front (Northern Alliance) in opposition to the Taliban. The United Front included all Afghan ethnicities: Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Turkmens, some Pashtuns and others. During the conflict, the Taliban received military support from Pakistan and financial support from Saudi Arabia. Pakistan militarily intervened in Afghanistan, deploying battalions and regiments of its Frontier Corps and Army against the United Front.Al Qaeda supported the Taliban with thousands of imported fighters from Pakistan, Arab countries, and Central Asia.

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