Editing Operation Enduring Freedom (section)

===Taliban===
Seizing upon a [[power vacuum]] after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan after their [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan|invasion]], the [[Taliban]] governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Their extreme interpretation of Islamic law prompted them to ban music, television, sports, and dancing, and enforce harsh judicial penalties (See [[Human rights in Afghanistan]]). Amputation was an accepted form of punishment for stealing,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rawa.org/execute4.htm |title=Taliban publicly execute murderer, amputate two robbers |publisher=Rawa |date=14 August 1998 |access-date=27 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607162714/http://www.rawa.org/execute4.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0498/9804047.html |title=The Afghan Taliban: Like It or Not, It Occupies Two-Thirds of Afghanistan and Shows No Sign of Weakening |publisher=Washington report |access-date=27 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302083726/http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0498/9804047.html |archive-date=2 March 2000}}</ref> and public executions could often be seen at the Kabul football stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rawa.org/murder-w.htm |title=Filmed by RAWA: Taliban publicly execute an Afghan woman |publisher=Rawa |access-date=27 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510012809/http://www.rawa.org/murder-w.htm |archive-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Asia |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/s/w_asia/70585.stm |publisher=BBC |place=United Kingdom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040124024022/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/s/w_asia/70585.stm |archive-date=24 January 2004}}</ref> Women's rights groups around the world were frequently critical as the Taliban banned women from appearing in public or holding many jobs outside the home.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} They drew further criticism<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=81406&page=1 |title = U.N. Confirms Destruction of Afghan Buddhas| website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] }}</ref> when they destroyed the [[Buddhas of Bamyan]], historical statues nearly 1,500 years old, because the Buddhas were considered idols.

In 1996, Saudi [[dissident]] [[Osama bin Laden]] moved to Afghanistan. When the Taliban came to power, bin Laden was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his [[al-Qaeda]] organization. It is understood that al-Qaeda-trained fighters known as the [[055 Brigade]] were integrated with the Taliban army between 1997 and 2001. It has been suggested that the Taliban and bin Laden had very close connections.<ref>{{Citation |publisher=9/11 commission |place=US |title=Report |chapter=5 |contribution-url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch5.pdf }}.</ref>