The
Afghan Civil War fought between 1996 and 2001 was part of the wider
War in Afghanistan ongoing since 1978. In 1996 the
Taliban captured the Afghan capital
Kabul and established the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The
Islamic State of Afghanistan government remained the internationally recognized government of Afghanistan. The Taliban's Emirate received recognition only from
Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan and the
United Arab Emirates. The defense minister of the Islamic State of Afghanistan,
Ahmad Shah Massoud, created the
United Front (Northern Alliance) in opposition to the Taliban. The United Front included all Afghan ethnicities:
Tajiks,
Uzbeks,
Hazaras,
Turkmens, some
Pashtuns and others. During the conflict, the Taliban received military support from Pakistan and financial support from Saudi Arabia. Pakistan militarily intervened in Afghanistan, deploying battalions and regiments of its
Frontier Corps and
Army against the United Front.
Al Qaeda supported the Taliban with thousands of imported fighters from Pakistan,
Arab countries, and
Central Asia.