What repressive Islamic party controlled Afghanistan from the 1990's until 2001?

The political and militant organization known as the Taliban, also referring to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, emerged in the mid-1990s from the chaos of the Second Afghan Civil War. Comprised largely of former students from religious schools, or madrasas, and peasant farmers, the group rapidly gained control over much of Afghanistan. By 1996, under the leadership of Mullah Omar, they had captured the capital city of Kabul and established their first government, ultimately ruling approximately 90% of the country until 2001. Their rise was fueled by a promise of security and an end to the widespread corruption and infighting that plagued Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal.

During their rule, the Taliban enforced an exceptionally strict interpretation of Islamic law, often leading to a brutally repressive regime. This ideology combined elements of Islamic fundamentalism, specifically the Deobandi movement, with a conservative Pashtun social code. Their policies severely restricted human rights, particularly for women, who were largely excluded from public life, education, and most employment. The regime was also widely condemned for its persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, the destruction of cultural monuments like the Buddhas of Bamiyan, and harsh punishments for perceived transgressions.

The Taliban's government received little international recognition, with only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates formally acknowledging their legitimacy. Their refusal to extradite Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, directly led to a US-led invasion of Afghanistan. This military campaign quickly toppled the Taliban regime by December 2001, marking the end of their initial period of control over the country.