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How large is this Taliban group? Where do they get the weapons ? Are they recruiting local populous where they take grounds (by force or they get many volunteer

by ssijak 5y ago

How large is this Taliban group? Where do they get the weapons ? Are they recruiting local populous where they take grounds (by force or they get many volunteers?)? I mean, after decades of screw ups in that country and war and destruction, I can't imagine for the majority to wan't to fight more, especially for a group who want sharia law, but maybe I am totally clouded by my European thinking.

shadilay 5y ago
The Taliban is a hybrid tribal confederacy and an offshoot of the Pakistani ISI run by the children of the madrassas funded by the gulf states. It's main purpose is preventing Iranian influence via Afghan Shia's. Afghanistan is best thought of as a separate planet and you cannot apply a European perspective. For example most in Afghanistan have never heard of 9/11. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904103404576556531604340742 https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904103404576556... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPWjuswmNIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPWjuswmNIE
- rich_sasha 5y ago
  It is surprising to me that the Taliban, seemingly a fringe and unpopular group even in Afghanistan itself, are so good at clinging to power. But what do I know.
  - shadilay 5y ago
    Not entirely surprising. The Taliban is mostly comprised of Afghan refugees who were raised in the madrassas of Pakistan. These were funded by the gulf states and the CIA and controlled by the ISI. With foreign money the Taliban bribes the tribal leaders. The tribe is the fundamental political unit in Afghanistan and always has been. In the early invasion US special forces found every foreign fighter was carrying something like 10k USD. The 'pitch' is as follows. The Taliban are Afghani's returning home to help their people. They have the legitimacy of islam and bring money to support the locals. They are neither fringe nor unpopular.
    - rich_sasha 5y ago
      I was going off articles like this one. If people are fleeing in droves, or are kicked out of their towns and ground razed, doesn’t sound like they are the favourites.

by ssijak 5y ago

shadilay 5y ago

The Taliban is a hybrid tribal confederacy and an offshoot of the Pakistani ISI run by the children of the madrassas funded by the gulf states. It's main purpose is preventing Iranian influence via Afghan Shia's. Afghanistan is best thought of as a separate planet and you cannot apply a European perspective. For example most in Afghanistan have never heard of 9/11. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904103404576556531604340742 https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904103404576556... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPWjuswmNIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPWjuswmNIE

rich_sasha 5y ago
It is surprising to me that the Taliban, seemingly a fringe and unpopular group even in Afghanistan itself, are so good at clinging to power. But what do I know.
- shadilay 5y ago
  Not entirely surprising. The Taliban is mostly comprised of Afghan refugees who were raised in the madrassas of Pakistan. These were funded by the gulf states and the CIA and controlled by the ISI. With foreign money the Taliban bribes the tribal leaders. The tribe is the fundamental political unit in Afghanistan and always has been. In the early invasion US special forces found every foreign fighter was carrying something like 10k USD. The 'pitch' is as follows. The Taliban are Afghani's returning home to help their people. They have the legitimacy of islam and bring money to support the locals. They are neither fringe nor unpopular.
  - rich_sasha 5y ago
    I was going off articles like this one. If people are fleeing in droves, or are kicked out of their towns and ground razed, doesn’t sound like they are the favourites.