The Afghan Civil War is a civil war in Afghanistan that began in 1978 and has continued since, though it has included several distinct phases. 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Combatants Soviet Union Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Afghan and foreign Mujahideen rebels supported by nations such as: United States, Peoples Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran Commanders Soviet forces only Boris Gromov Pavel Grachev Valentin Varennikov Abdul Haq Jalaluddin Haqqani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Mohammed Khalis Ismail Khan Ahmed Shah... Combatants Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Mujahideen Commanders Mohammad Najibullah Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ahmed Shah Massoud The 1989 to 1992 phase of the Afghan Civil War began after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to fend for itself against the Mujahadeen. ... Combatants Islamic State of Afghanistan Hezbi Islami Taliban Commanders Burhanuddin Rabbani Ahmed Shah Massoud Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Abdul Rashid Dostum Mohammed Omar Abdul Rashid Dostum joined forces with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in 1994. ... Combatants Northern Alliance Taliban al-Qaeda Commanders Burhanuddin Rabbani Ahmed Shah Massoud† Mohammed Fahim Abdul Rashid Dostum Mullah Omar Osama Bin Laden The Afghan Civil War continued after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, with the formation of the Afghan Northern Alliance attempting to oust the Taliban. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. ...

Timeline

Soviet involvement

Main article: Soviet war in Afghanistan

A newly installed communist government encountered resistance to its programs. At its request, the Soviet Union sent armed forces into the country. Even with Soviet support the government never managed to effectively control the country and stop the rebellion, which had support from Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. The Soviet Union withdrew its forces in 1989. Combatants Soviet Union Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Afghan and foreign Mujahideen rebels supported by nations such as: United States, Peoples Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran Commanders Soviet forces only Boris Gromov Pavel Grachev Valentin Varennikov Abdul Haq Jalaluddin Haqqani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Mohammed Khalis Ismail Khan Ahmed Shah... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Government collapse

Main article: Afghan Civil War (1989-1992)

After the Soviet withdrawal, the Republic of Afghanistan continued to deal with attacks from the Mujahideen. They received funding and arms from the Soviet Union for several years and actually increased their effectiveness past levels ever achieved during the Soviet's occupation. But the government was dealt a major blow when Abdul Rashid Dostum, a leading general, defected to the Mujahideen. Combatants Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Mujahideen Commanders Mohammad Najibullah Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ahmed Shah Massoud The 1989 to 1992 phase of the Afghan Civil War began after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, leaving the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to fend for itself against the Mujahadeen. ... Mujahideen ( Arabic: ‎, , literally strugglers) is a term for Muslims fighting in a war or involved in any other struggle. ... General Abdul Rashid Dostum (also Abdurrashid Dostum, born 1954), a powerful ethnic Uzbek warlord is the principal leader of Afghanistans Uzbek community. ...

Anarchy

Main article: Afghan Civil War (1992-1996)

After taking power, the unity of the Mujahideen evaporated and fighting began between them. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was blamed for a rocket attack on the government, prompting Dostum to launch a campaign against him. Dostum later joined forces with Hekmatyar and fighting destroyed much of Kabul as the nation was split along factional lines. In 1994, the Taliban Movement began in southern Afghanistan, and made fast gains for the next two years against both Dostum and Tajik commander Ahmed Shah Massoud; in 1996 the Taliban took the capital. Combatants Islamic State of Afghanistan Hezbi Islami Taliban Commanders Burhanuddin Rabbani Ahmed Shah Massoud Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Abdul Rashid Dostum Mohammed Omar Abdul Rashid Dostum joined forces with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in 1994. ... Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (born 1947 in Imam Saheb, Kunduz province, Afghanistan) is an Afghan warlord. ... Armed Taliban in pickup truck in Herat, July 2001. ... Tajikmay refer to: Tajiks, an ethnic group living in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and China The Tajik language, the official language of Tajikistan The Arabic-schooled, ethnically Persian administrative caste of the Turco-Persian society. ... Ahmed Shah Massoud (احمد شاه مسعود) (c. ...

Taliban control

Main article: Afghan Civil War (1996-2001)

After the fall of Kabul, Dostum and Massoud joined forces to form the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance). During this time the Taliban continued to make gains against the Alliance, eventually taking up to 95% of Afghanistan. Dostum was forced out of Afghanistan, and Massoud was assassinated on September 9, 2001, most probably by al-Qaeda operatives. Combatants Northern Alliance Taliban al-Qaeda Commanders Burhanuddin Rabbani Ahmed Shah Massoud† Mohammed Fahim Abdul Rashid Dostum Mullah Omar Osama Bin Laden The Afghan Civil War continued after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, with the formation of the Afghan Northern Alliance attempting to oust the Taliban. ... Flag flown by the UIF. The United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (UIF, Jabha-yi Muttahid-i Islami-yi Milli bara-yi Nijat-i Afghanistan), also known as the Northern Alliance (term used by the Western media, Taliban and Al-Qaeda), was a military-political umbrella organization of... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ...

United States involvement

Main articles: 2001 war in Afghanistan and Taliban insurgency

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States and allies with the help of Pakistan and the Northern Alliance overthrew the Taliban and established a new republic under president Hamid Karzai. Taliban resistance continues in the southern part of the country. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Afghan National Army, NATO, US Army Taliban Commanders Hamid Karzai, David Richards Mohammed Omar Casualties Coalition casualties:496 killed, 1000 wounded[1] Afghan security forces casaulties:1100 killed, 125 captured 5500 killed, 1000 captured(est. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... Hamid Karzai (Pashto: حامد کرزي, Persian: حامد کرزی) (b. ...