Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي امارت, Da Afġānistān Islāmī Amārāt), also referred to as the First Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, was a totalitarian Islamic state led by the Taliban that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. At its peak, the Taliban government controlled approximately 90% of the country, while remaining regions in the northeast were held by the Northern Alliance, which maintained broad international recognition as a continuation of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan د افغانستان اسلامي امارت Da Afġānistān Islāmī Amārāt | |||||||||
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| 1996–2001 | |||||||||
| Motto: لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muḥammadun rasūlu l-Lāh "There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God" | |||||||||
| Anthem: دا د باتورانو کور Dā Də Bātorāno Kor "This Is the Home of the Brave" | |||||||||
The Islamic Emirate in 2001, in green | |||||||||
| Status | Partially-recognised government | ||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Kabul | ||||||||
| Official languages |
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| Religion | Sunni Islam (official) | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Afghan | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary totalitarian theocratic Islamic emirate | ||||||||
| Supreme Leader | |||||||||
• 1996–2001 | Mullah Omar | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1996–2001 | Mohammad Rabbani | ||||||||
• 2001 (acting) | Abdul Kabir | ||||||||
| Legislature | Supreme Council (consultative body) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Afghan Civil War / War on Terror | ||||||||
• Mullah Omar proclaimed Commander of the Faithful | 4 April 1996 | ||||||||
| 27 September 1996 | |||||||||
• Name changed to "Emirate" | 29 October 1997 | ||||||||
• Invasion begins | 7 October 2001 | ||||||||
| 13 November 2001 | |||||||||
| 7 December 2001 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 587,580 km2 (226,870 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Currency | Afghani | ||||||||
| Calling code | +93 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | AF | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Afghanistan | ||||||||
| History of Afghanistan |
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| Timeline |
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After the September 11 attacks and subsequent declaration of a "War on Terror" by the United States, international opposition to the regime drastically increased, with diplomatic recognition from the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan being rescinded. The Islamic Emirate ceased to exist on 7 December 2001 after being overthrown by the Northern Alliance, which had been bolstered by the ISAF coalition established after a U.S.-led invasion of the country two months prior. The Taliban continued to refer to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in official communications when it was out of power from 2001 to 2021.