09/25/2001 - Updated 10:53 AM ET

The Taliban: Who are they?

Talk of a U.S. military assault on Afghanistan has put a world spotlight on that country's hard-line Islamic leadership. Here is a primer on how the fundamentalist regime came to power, what its relationship is with millionaire Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and what role it could play in the future of the region.

'Holy warriors'

Afghanistan was invaded by the former Soviet Union in 1979. Ten years later, the Soviet invasion was in shambles, thanks to anti-communist forces supplied and trained by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, among others. The victors, known as mujahidin, or holy warriors, included bin Laden. With the Soviets out of the way, the Muslim warriors began fighting among themselves.

Fundamentalists take over

By 1996, the Taliban, translated in Arabic to mean "the students," managed to seize control of most of Afghanistan. Five years ago, the Taliban offered to provide a safe haven for bin Laden, who by then had been exiled from his homeland. Bin Laden, who has been implicated in terrorist attacks against U.S. interests worldwide, reportedly gave the organization $3 million to boost its flagging military efforts.

Today, the Taliban controls nearly 90% of Afghanistan, still harbors bin Laden as "a guest" and is the primary focus of a global appeal by the United States for a full-scale war against terrorism.

In the past three years, and possibly with pressure from bin Laden, the Taliban reportedly has opened its training camps to would-be terrorists from throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Harsh rule

The Taliban's reclusive supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has imposed the world's strictest form of Islam on the people of Afghanistan. Music, television, cinema and most forms of entertainment have been banned. Teaching Christianity is punishable by death. Severe restrictions on women's access to health care and education also have been imposed. Women must be covered from head to toe when outside of their homes. One similarly veiled woman, convicted of killing her abusive husband, was executed publicly by rifle. In March 2001, the world recoiled as the Taliban destroyed non-Islamic religious statues, such as giant Buddhas.

In light of the Taliban's role in harboring Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have renounced all diplomatic ties with Afghanistan's rulers. Currently, only Pakistan maintains formal relations with the Taliban.

Source: USATODAY.com research