How Did Afghanistan Become Independent
Study guide:
Afghanistan
Fall 2011
Essay questions:
When did Afghanistan become an independent state? What events prompted the declaration of independence?
Explain factional (Khalq/Parcham) divisions within the PDPA.
-The party was divided into factions, with the Khalq and Parcham being the two largest ones. The split was mainly due to ideological and economic reasons. The Khalq supporters consisted mainly of ethnic Pashtuns from rural areas, while Parcham supported consisted mainly of citizens from the urban areas. The Parchams supported social-economic reforms in the country.
According to Coll (Chapter 2) and the video showed in class, the 1979 Soviet Union military intervention in Afghanistan was a result of misperceptions …show more content…
of both the Soviets and the U.S. Explain.
What kind of government in Afghanistan best suits the interest of Pakistan? Tajik? Uzbek? Pashtun? Religious? Secular? Fragmented?
Identify at least two opposing groups in the 1992-1996 civil war in Afghanistan.
According to Coll (Chapter 8), what explains the fact that Islamists rather than other groups fighting the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s benefited disproportionately from the funding coming from foreign donors?
Which foreign powers interfered with the 1992-1994 civil war in Afghanistan and for what specific reasons?
The Taliban came close to fighting a war with Iran in 1998. What course of events led to this?
-Following the emergence of the Taliban and their harsh treatments towards the Shia minority, Iran stepped up their aid to the Northern Alliance. Relations hit a climax when the Taliban seized the Iranian consulate and killed iranian diplomats. Following this incident, Iran almost went to war with the Taliban before the United Nations council and the United States intervened and prevented an Iranian invasion.
Pakistan’s economic interests to a large extent made the Taliban’s rise to a prominent political (and military) role in Afghanistan possible. How so?
-Pipeplines
Why did the Taliban, once in power, impose such strict rules on Afghan society? What was their perception of women? Discuss some of the restrictions the Taliban imposed on Afghan society? (The Petrovic book, the Taliban video, and the upcoming lecture).
-The Taliban imposed extreme restrictions on Afghan society.
It was one of their ways of “cleansing” society and all the problems the state faced. They banned all DVDs, CDs, videos and audio tapes. They persecuted minorities, such as making Hindus wear yellow badges, basically branding them. Trials were conducted without lawyers, if you were accused, you were basically guilty and had to defend yourself.
-In regards to women, they imposed restrictions on basically everything they were allowed to do. Women were no longer allowed to work, which put a huge strain in the progression of education for the next generation of kids, since most school teachers were women. They were not allowed to wear make up, high heels, be seen or heard in public (reason for the veil) because they drove men wild into temptation. They were basically excluded from the public eye.
What were the Taliban’s political objectives initially? How did those objectives change later and why?
-Initially, the objectives were to restore peace, disarm the population and enforce Sharia law. Return afghanistan's islamic culture. They were fighting the warlords and “cleansing” the corruption that had spread throughout the war-torn country. As the Taliban gained more power over the country, they started to enforce radical laws of …show more content…
Sharia.
Discuss political and military organization of the Taliban (I will go over this topic in class).
IDs
Amanullah: ruler of Afghanistan from 1919-1929. Put in the first constitution in Afghanistan. Tried implementing many pro-western policies and cultural changes in the state, such as views towards women and education. However, that inevitably led to his downfall as many Afghans were “insulted” by the changes he tried to implement, condemning them as non-muslim.
The Hindu Kush: mountain range that stretches from central Afghanistan through northern
Pakistan.
Madrasas (Coll, Chapter 3)
Loya Jirga: known as the “grand council,” is a grand meeting which includes tribal leaders that assembles to discuss national state matters, such as electing a president, changes in law, etc.
General Zia-ul-Haq (Coll, Chapter 3)
Daoud: overthrew his cousin Mohammeds monarchy in 1973 and declared afghanistan a republic and himself as the president. His policies consisted of favoring the rights of women and two 5-year modernization plans.
Hazara: third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan making up approx.. 9% of the population.
“New Democracy”
The Durand line: international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Divided the Pashtun tribal areas from the territories under the administration of the emir of Afghanistan.
Mujahidin (also transcribed as Mujahideen)
“Stinger”: missiles fired from the ground to shoot down aircraft and helicopters. A major weapon used in afghanistan against the Soviets, which were provided by the United States.
Mula Omar: leader of the Taliban, extremely difficult to identify, predicted that the NATO forces will leave Afghanistan defeated in a few years like the Soviets did in 1989 and even offering them a “safe passage” out of the
country.
the Karmal regime (or Democratic Republic of Afghanistan): name given to Afghanistan by the PDPA from 1977-1992.
Pasthunistan: means land of Pashtuns, term used for the historical regions inhabited by native afghans (Pashtuns).
Dostum
Massoud (The Taliban video): student engineer who became a military leader and played a pivotal role in driving the Soviets out of Afghanstan. Recognized as a national war hero and spiritual leader. Was assasinted Setp 9th, also served as the Minister of Defense.
Ulema (or ulamma): body of muslim religious leaders who have completed years of training and studies of Islamic sciences.
Rabbani:
Hikmetyar also transcribed as Hekmatyar (Coll, Ch. 10).
Deobandi: movement of Sunni Islam which rejects all forms of ijtihad, rejects all forms of hierarchy within muslim community and holds a very restrictive view of the social role of women.
Afghanistan
Fall 2011
Essay questions:
When did Afghanistan become an independent state? What events prompted the declaration of independence?
Explain factional (Khalq/Parcham) divisions within the PDPA.
-The party was divided into factions, with the Khalq and Parcham being the two largest ones. The split was mainly due to ideological and economic reasons. The Khalq supporters consisted mainly of ethnic Pashtuns from rural areas, while Parcham supported consisted mainly of citizens from the urban areas. The Parchams supported social-economic reforms in the country.
According to Coll (Chapter 2) and the video showed in class, the 1979 Soviet Union military intervention in Afghanistan was a result of misperceptions …show more content…
of both the Soviets and the U.S. Explain.
What kind of government in Afghanistan best suits the interest of Pakistan? Tajik? Uzbek? Pashtun? Religious? Secular? Fragmented?
Identify at least two opposing groups in the 1992-1996 civil war in Afghanistan.
According to Coll (Chapter 8), what explains the fact that Islamists rather than other groups fighting the Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s benefited disproportionately from the funding coming from foreign donors?
Which foreign powers interfered with the 1992-1994 civil war in Afghanistan and for what specific reasons?
The Taliban came close to fighting a war with Iran in 1998. What course of events led to this?
-Following the emergence of the Taliban and their harsh treatments towards the Shia minority, Iran stepped up their aid to the Northern Alliance. Relations hit a climax when the Taliban seized the Iranian consulate and killed iranian diplomats. Following this incident, Iran almost went to war with the Taliban before the United Nations council and the United States intervened and prevented an Iranian invasion.
Pakistan’s economic interests to a large extent made the Taliban’s rise to a prominent political (and military) role in Afghanistan possible. How so?
-Pipeplines
Why did the Taliban, once in power, impose such strict rules on Afghan society? What was their perception of women? Discuss some of the restrictions the Taliban imposed on Afghan society? (The Petrovic book, the Taliban video, and the upcoming lecture).
-The Taliban imposed extreme restrictions on Afghan society.
It was one of their ways of “cleansing” society and all the problems the state faced. They banned all DVDs, CDs, videos and audio tapes. They persecuted minorities, such as making Hindus wear yellow badges, basically branding them. Trials were conducted without lawyers, if you were accused, you were basically guilty and had to defend yourself.
-In regards to women, they imposed restrictions on basically everything they were allowed to do. Women were no longer allowed to work, which put a huge strain in the progression of education for the next generation of kids, since most school teachers were women. They were not allowed to wear make up, high heels, be seen or heard in public (reason for the veil) because they drove men wild into temptation. They were basically excluded from the public eye.
What were the Taliban’s political objectives initially? How did those objectives change later and why?
-Initially, the objectives were to restore peace, disarm the population and enforce Sharia law. Return afghanistan's islamic culture. They were fighting the warlords and “cleansing” the corruption that had spread throughout the war-torn country. As the Taliban gained more power over the country, they started to enforce radical laws of …show more content…
Sharia.
Discuss political and military organization of the Taliban (I will go over this topic in class).
IDs
Amanullah: ruler of Afghanistan from 1919-1929. Put in the first constitution in Afghanistan. Tried implementing many pro-western policies and cultural changes in the state, such as views towards women and education. However, that inevitably led to his downfall as many Afghans were “insulted” by the changes he tried to implement, condemning them as non-muslim.
The Hindu Kush: mountain range that stretches from central Afghanistan through northern
Pakistan.
Madrasas (Coll, Chapter 3)
Loya Jirga: known as the “grand council,” is a grand meeting which includes tribal leaders that assembles to discuss national state matters, such as electing a president, changes in law, etc.
General Zia-ul-Haq (Coll, Chapter 3)
Daoud: overthrew his cousin Mohammeds monarchy in 1973 and declared afghanistan a republic and himself as the president. His policies consisted of favoring the rights of women and two 5-year modernization plans.
Hazara: third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan making up approx.. 9% of the population.
“New Democracy”
The Durand line: international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Divided the Pashtun tribal areas from the territories under the administration of the emir of Afghanistan.
Mujahidin (also transcribed as Mujahideen)
“Stinger”: missiles fired from the ground to shoot down aircraft and helicopters. A major weapon used in afghanistan against the Soviets, which were provided by the United States.
Mula Omar: leader of the Taliban, extremely difficult to identify, predicted that the NATO forces will leave Afghanistan defeated in a few years like the Soviets did in 1989 and even offering them a “safe passage” out of the
country.
the Karmal regime (or Democratic Republic of Afghanistan): name given to Afghanistan by the PDPA from 1977-1992.
Pasthunistan: means land of Pashtuns, term used for the historical regions inhabited by native afghans (Pashtuns).
Dostum
Massoud (The Taliban video): student engineer who became a military leader and played a pivotal role in driving the Soviets out of Afghanstan. Recognized as a national war hero and spiritual leader. Was assasinted Setp 9th, also served as the Minister of Defense.
Ulema (or ulamma): body of muslim religious leaders who have completed years of training and studies of Islamic sciences.
Rabbani:
Hikmetyar also transcribed as Hekmatyar (Coll, Ch. 10).
Deobandi: movement of Sunni Islam which rejects all forms of ijtihad, rejects all forms of hierarchy within muslim community and holds a very restrictive view of the social role of women.