Background

• Afghanistan has long been known as the “Graveyard of Empires”, having resisted invasions from the British, Soviets, and most recently, the United States.

• The Taliban emerged from a mix of religious schools and Mujahideen fighters after the Soviet withdrawal and during Afghanistan’s civil war.

• Early U.S. contacts with the Taliban in the 1990s reveal that they were underestimated—seen as unsophisticated religious students.

🔹 Taliban Strengths

• The Taliban leveraged Afghanistan’s rugged geography for guerrilla tactics.

• Fighters were highly familiar with terrain, used ambushes, flanking, and hit-and-run tactics.

• Civilians often warned each other of incoming U.S. patrols, and the Taliban frequently counterattacked and endured bombings without surrendering.

🔹 U.S. Military Campaign

• After 9/11, the U.S. launched a heavy bombing campaign using cluster bombs, B-52 strikes, and massive ordinance (like the 15,000 lb “Daisy Cutter”).

• These strikes destroyed infrastructure and caused massive civilian casualties, displacing hundreds of thousands.

• Some bombings targeted Red Cross facilities, UN warehouses, and hospitals, either by mistake or poor intelligence.

🔹 Taliban Recovery

• Despite initial collapse, the Taliban rapidly regrouped, launching the major 2006 offensive under commander Dadullah.

• They reclaimed large regions (Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni) and gained influence through governance and local law enforcement under Sharia.

• The Taliban’s healthcare and logistics networks improved over time, with hundreds of clinics and mobile medical teams.

🔹 Asymmetric Warfare

• From 2007 onward, the Taliban shifted to IED warfare and suicide bombings, heavily damaging U.S. and Afghan forces.

• U.S. troops reported psychological strain, knowing every patrol could be their last due to booby traps and ambushes.

• The Taliban often warned civilians before attacks, reducing local casualties and winning support.

🔹 Symbolic Victories

• The Taliban’s 2008 jailbreak in Kandahar freed over 1,000 prisoners and showed their organizational strength.

• American leadership increasingly admitted they were not winning the war; commanders like McChrystal issued grim assessments.

🔹 Propaganda & Public Perception

• Taliban commanders and literature (poetry, speeches) projected their faith-driven resilience, describing martyrdom as a weapon.

• Carpet bombing and civilian deaths fueled anti-American sentiment and strengthened Taliban recruitment.

🔹 Concluding Remarks

• The Taliban adapted quickly and successfully transitioned from collapse to dominance through terrain mastery, intelligence, adaptability, and ideological motivation.

• Their comeback culminated in outlasting a 20-year occupation by the most technologically advanced military in the world.