The Taliban arose out of a civil war in the 1990s, after the Soviets were driven out. The Islamic militant group seized control of Kandahar in 1994 and the central government in Kabul in 1996, ruling most of Afghanistan until the U.S. invaded in 2001. They’re now retaking control of many areas, using rural footholds to advance on cities as the U.S. withdraws.

Pre-9/11

2000 (shown on map)

The Taliban control most provinces and their capitals. The Northern Alliance controls 10 percent of Afghanistan in the mountainous northeast.

Post-U.S. invasion

2002

The U.S. ejects the Taliban from Kabul and all provincial capitals. Leaders flee to Pakistan. Two years later a new constitution is adopted and a government elected.

Pre-U.S. troop surge

2009

A years-long Taliban resurgence gains ground as the group seizes control of several districts and threatens to overtake many provincial capitals.

Post-surge

2012

After a two-year surge in U.S. forces, NATO wrests control of most areas from the Taliban, pushing them back to their rural strongholds.

Withdrawal

2021

(map data as of July 1, 2021)

The Taliban regain large areas after NATO turns primary security over to the Afghan military in 2014. The U.S. pledges a full withdrawal by September 11, 2021.

Taliban takeover

2021

(map data as of September 9, 2021)

All provinces and their capitals, and the capital city of Kabul, quickly fall under Taliban control.