Difference Between Taliban and Al Qaeda
Some people confuse Taliban regime with Al-Qaeda, although they are two different groups. The former is a hardliner rulers regime who ruled Afghanistan from early 1990s until start of 21st century. They were led by Mullah Omar, who is in hiding since the United States and international coalition forces attacked the country. Al-Qaeda on the other hand is internationally declared terrorist organization, whose founding leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US air raid in Pakistan in 2012. The reason both groups became close together was that Taliban regime offered shelter to Al-Qaeda.
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Taliban
Taliban is strict Islamic fundamental rulers group that ruled the Afghanistan from early 1990s until start of the 2000. They came into existence as a result of anarchy in Afghanistan after Russian forces were defeated and left the country. The group fought holy war against all fractions in the country, who were ruling their groups of people as per their own rules and according to Taliban were involved in corruption of all sorts. The Taliban almost captured entire country, except for a small part in the North, where former Jihadi leader Massoud had his powers intact. After terrorists attack in the US on September 11, the country was attacked by the US-led international coalition forces and Taliban's rule was ousted. The group sustained some sort of infrastructure and continued to attack the international forces from their hidings in the mountain areas of the country. They are still believed to hold a considerable strength but lately has been offered to return to talks to solve the matter peacefully.
Image courtesy: blogs.reuters.com -
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Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is internationally declared group of terrorists. It was founded by former Jihadi leader Osama Bin Laden, who later became an international security threat. The US saw him as their direct enemy and as per their fears, he was accused of staging the 9/11 terrorists attack. This led to a war in Afghanistan, as Taliban refuse to cut their alleged ties with Al-Qaeda. The war led to killing of Osama in 2012, when the US forces carried a secret operation in Pakistan. Although the group still sustains its infrastructure, its strength is believed to have reduced since killing of its founding leader. The US still sees the group presenting some sort of threat to international peace and still pursuing its members to an extent.
Image courtesy: english.alarabiya.net