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