In 1994-95, Afghanistan dissolved in to total disarray. The Pashtuns from the Kandahar region who had studied at Madrassa Haqqania near Peshawar, a conservative Deobandi institution, organized a Taliban movement of simple pious teachers and prayer leaders. They disbanded the truck mafia, enforced codes of good moral conduct and hanged criminals. In November 1994, they captured Kandahar. A Pakistani Federal Minister described the Afghan Taliban as 'our boys' but this was a delusion as the Taliban, like most Afghans, had their own priorities. In 1996, the Taliban tide swept the county, conquered Kabul and took control of Mazar-i-Sharif, whose mayor, a Massoud ally, defected to them. The Taliban combined Durrani rural culture and Islamic ethos. When Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto sought to open the southern Quetta route to Central Asia, she organized a large commercial convoy which was blocked by the truck mafia. The Interior Minister, Naseerullah Khan Babar persuaded the Taliban to clear the way. In May 1997, Pakistan recognized the Taliban government after Mazar-i-Sharif accepted the Taliban government. Saudi Arabia and UAE followed with their recognition, but the Taliban remained isolated internationally because of their odious human rights record.
The ISI, CIA, and the White House pursued a practical policy. Prince Turki, the Saudi politician came to Kadhahar and asked Mullah Omar to hand over Osama bin Laden. But this angered Mullah Omar so much that he got up and doused his head with cold water, before rebuking the Saudi royals.
The influential Karzai and Ahmadzai families declared support for the Taliban. Pakistan tried to prevent the Taliban from occupying its territory by crossing the border but this became a long running controversy as the US pressed Pakistan to 'do more' and Pakistan needed time and resources to move forces and enforce its writ in the Tribal Areas. While the US was impatient, Pakistan had its constraints.
