Key terms: Afghanistan & the Taliban

Question 1

Northern Alliance

Answer 1

Main military opposition to the Taliban. Alliance of Mujaadeen groups

Question 2

Taliban & its leader

Answer 2

Students of Islam. Led by mullah Omah

Question 3

Sharia

Answer 3

Strict Islamic law

Question 4

Ramadan

Answer 4

Month of fasting in the Islamic calender

Question 5

Mullah

Answer 5

Traditional leader of prayer at a local mosque

Question 6

Burqa

Answer 6

Enveloping head-to-toe covering worn by Afghan women in some parts of the country, made compulsory under Taliban.

Question 7

Fatwa

Answer 7

Legal ruling issued by the ulama

Question 8

Jihad

Answer 8

Effort or struggle to become a good muslim. Also a holy war to defend or spread Islam.

Question 9

Madrassa

Answer 9

Islamic schools which teach religious subjects

Question 10

Mehrem

Answer 10

A male blood relative who should accompany a women during travel according to strict Islamic law.

Question 11

Mujaheddin

Answer 11

Holy warriors fighting a Jihad. Resist Soviet occupation

Question 12

Munkrat

Answer 12

Religious police

Question 13

When did the Soviets invade Afghanistan?

When did they withdraw

Answer 13

Invaded in December 1979

Withdraw in 1989

Question 14

When did the civil war begin?

Answer 14

1992

Question 15

When was the Taliban formed and how?

Answer 15

Taliban was formed in response to factionalism in November 1994

Question 16

Define Factionalism

Answer 16

a faction is a group of individuals with a common political purpose

Question 17

When did the Taliban capture the capital Kabul?

Answer 17

September 27 1996

Question 18

What and when was the Herat Massacre?

Answer 18

in 1998, Shi’ite muslims were targeted and killed by the Taliban

Question 19

What’s significant about September 11 2001?

Answer 19

Al Qaeda attacks on the world trade centre and the pentagon

Question 20

When was American invasion of Afghanistan?

What do they do with Taliban?

Answer 20

October 2001 - They deposes the Taliban and warlords take back control of ethnic regions