The Key Players of Afghanistan

The Taliban and Foreign Militia

Since seizing power in 1996 over much of Afghanistan the Taliban have established themselves as a formidable force. Their strong links to the Arab Mujahideen has attracted a great deal of controversy over the years. By the end of November 2001 the Taliban had lost all of its powerbase in Afghanistan following repeated US lead aerial bombardment and successful advances of Northern Alliance and anti-Taliban forces of the Eastern Alliance.

		Other Foreign Jihadis
Mullah Omar and the Taliban Predominantly Pashtun membership Links to Deobandi parties in Pakistan such as JUI.	Usama bin Laden Head of al-Qaida Wahhabi based ideology with widespread international links	Other Jihadi Groups Includes Uzbeks, Uighurs, Chechens, Kashmiris and others.

The predominantly Sunni-based Mujahideen

The Fundamentalists
The main Fundamentalist Mujahideen outfits of Afghanistan's anti-Soviet and Intra-Mujahideen war.


Burhanuddin Rabbani Leader of Jamiat-i-Islami Part of Northern Alliance Ikhwani influence	Ahmad Shah Masood Head of Shura-e-Nayar Part of Jamiat-t-Islami Ikhwani influence	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Leader of Hizb-e-Islami Maudoodist with links to Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan	Abdur Rabb Rasool Sayyaf Leader of Ittedhad-e-Islami Wahhabi ideology with Saudi backing

The Traditionalists
The main traditionalist Mujahideen outfits of Afghanistan. They were largely not directly involved in the post-Soviet Intra-Mujahideen war. Gailani and Mujadidi are distinct from the more clerical based Khalis and Muhammadi's Deobandi factions.

			No picture Yet
Peer Gailani Leader of Mahaz Islami-yi-Milli Sufi leadership	Sibghatullah Mujadidi Leader of Jabha Islami Sufi following	Maulvi Yunus Khalis Leader of Hizb-e-Islami(Khalis) Strong appeal to clergy Deobandi ideology	Maulvi Muhammad Nabi Muhammadi Leader of Harakat-i-Inqilaab-i-Islami Deobandi ideology with clerical support amongst Pashtuns

The Iranian Supported Shia Mujahideen

The Shia Mujahideen movements of Afghanistan consist of various factions many of whom are united under the Hizb-e-Wahdat umbrela party. Membership of these groups are largely Hazara Shias(Imami sect).

	No Picture Yet	Other Shia Groups
Karim Khalili Leader of Hizb-e-Wahdat Largely Hazara Shia following	Ali Mazari Former chairman of Afghan Shia Alliance.	Shia Mujahideen Includes all other Iranian backed Shia factions such as Hizbullah, Harakat-e-Islami and Nasr-e-Islam

Other Contenders

The other groups competing for power in Afghanistan include various secularist and pro-monarchist groups of all ethnic backgrounds.


Rashid Dostum Leader of Jumbish Milli Uzbek commander formerly pro-Communist	Karzai Current leader of Afghanistan.	King Zaher Shah Former King of Afghanistan until the coup of 1974	Ismail Khan The warlord based in Herat. He sought refuge in Iran when the Taliban were in power until the coup of 1974

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws