Fighting for control
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.
EUR.
AFGHANISTAN
ASIA
INDIAN
OCEAN
Kunduz
Mazar-e
Sharif
Pul-e
Khumri
Asadabad
Qalah-ye
Now
Kabul
Pul-e Alam
Jalalabad
Herat
Ghazni
Tarin Kot
Farah
Kandahar
Lashkar
Gah
200 mi
200 km
Control of
provincial capital
Taliban influence
in province
Control
Taliban
High
Under threat
by Taliban
Moderate
Minimal
Government of
Afghanistan or
Northern Alliance
None or
insignificant
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.
Controlled by
Northern Alliance
Kabul
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.
Kunduz
Aibak
Faizabad
Shibirghan
Taluqan
Sar-e Pul
Herat
Kabul
Farah
Qalat
Kandahar
Zaranj
Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff.
Lawson Parker
Source: Bill Roggio, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Fighting for control
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.
Kunduz
Mazar-e
Sharif
Pul-e
Khumri
EUR.
Asadabad
AFGHANISTAN
Qalah-ye
Now
Kabul
Herat
ASIA
Pul-e Alam
Jalalabad
Ghazni
Tarin Kot
Farah
INDIAN
OCEAN
Kandahar
Lashkar
Gah
200 mi
200 km
Taliban influence in province
Control
None or insignificant
High
Moderate
Minimal
Control of provincial capital
Under threat
by Taliban
Taliban
Government of Afghanistan
or Northern Alliance
Controlled by
Northern Alliance
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.
Kabul
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.
Kunduz
Aibak
Faizabad
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.
Shibirghan
Taluqan
Sar-e Pul
Herat
Kabul
Farah
Qalat
Kandahar
Zaranj
Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff. Lawson Parker
Source: Bill Roggio, Foundation for Defense of Democracies