Nikita, Brunner ; Alexander, Mihailov. (2023) Radical Religious Rule and Human Capital: Evidence from the Taliban Control in Afghanistan (1996-2001).
In: Economics Discussion Papers. RePEc:rdg:emxxdp:em-dp2023-01.

Full description at Econpapers

But if for the Americans the interest in supporting the Mujaheddin was to reduce the Soviets’ sphere of influence, for Afghan tribes, it was yet one more fight to prevent the submission of their religion, culture and society to a foreign system. At last, the Mujaheddin successfully forced the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989 and, after a few more years of war, overthrew the Soviet-backed government of Mohammed Najibullah in 1992. But when Kabul fell, it was not to Pashtun tribes which used to rule Afghanistan for 300 years, but to the better organised Tajik forces of Burhanuddin Rabbani and his military commander Ahmad Shah Masud, along with Uzbek forces led by General Rashid Dotsum. Almost instantly, a civil war broke between Pashtun tribes led by Gulbuddin Hikmetyar and the interim Islamist government created by Burhanuddin Rabbani. Meanwhile, former Mujaheddin warlords fought each other in different parts of the country.