[kj1980]

Afghan Memo #17, Central Asian Neutrality

Following suit with the other republics, Turkmenistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. However, in sharp contrast to the rise of democracy and freedom in other former Soviet states, Turkmenistan developed a government ruled by a presidential dictatorship.

As with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan bounders many ethnic groups in its area. It has retained its neutrality in all matters around the region, and was officially acknowledged by the UN General Assembly as a "permanently neutral nation" (like Switzerland) in 1995.

Currently, Turkmenistan is avidly seeking to construct a huge pipeline across its country to exploit its vast natural resources. However, the instability of the region has been a major hinderance to its project.



Afghan Memo #18, The Rise of the Taliban

The word "Taliban" stems from the pluralization of the Dari (Persian) word "Tali," which translates to "seeker."

Members of the Taliban consisted of former Afghani refugees who learned military tactics at Islamic religious schools called madrasas in Pakistan. In 1994, they initiated their conquests around the rural regions of Afghanistan.

Their advanced guerilla tactics overwhelmed the warring mujahedeen warlords. To the eyes of many Afghanis, the Taliban was looked as a hero that would finally put an end to years of civil war and fighting.


Afghan Memo #19, The Taliban Government

Starting with the aid and support of Pakistan and the United States in 1994, the Taliban was able to secure an overwhelming victories against the mujahedeen. By 1996, the Taliban controlled over 70% of the region. When they captured the capital Kabul, it established its own government.

However, to the dismay of the liberal and Western-minded urban residents, the newly formed Taliban government imposed a conservative state based on radical Islam.