Taliban

Afghan Taliban militia soldiers stand on the debris of a dynamted buddha statue in Bamiyan city of central Afghanistan, 26 March 2001. Afghanistan's ancient Bamiyan Buddhas have been completely destroyed by the Taliban militia. Taliban officials said the colossal statues, carved into the sandstone cliffs near this central city between the second and fifth cenruries, took 20 days to reduce to rubble using dynamite, rockets and tank shell.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

Armed soldiers of the Afghan Taliban militia stand in front of the statueless cliffs in Bamiyan city of central Afghanistan, 26 March 2001. Afghanistan's ancient Bamiyan Buddhas have been completely destroyed by the Taliban militia. Taliban officials said the colossal statues, carved into the sandstone cliffs near this central city between the second and fifth cenruries, took 20 days to reduce to rubble using dynamite, rockets and tank shell.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants are presented to the media while being held for safety in a mosque belonging the NDS (national department of security) on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. Following an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 4: Surrendering Taliban militants stand with their weapons as they are presented to the media on November 4, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. Twenty Taliban fighters from Afghanistan's Herat province have surrendered to government troops in Herat, west of the capital city of Kabul. After an amnesty launched by President Hamid Karzai in November 2004, hundreds of anti-government Taliban militants have since surrendered to the government.

Afghan Taliban militia's officials stand in front of the completely destroyed tallest standing Buddha statue in Bamiyan city, in central Afghanistan, 26 March 2001. The Taliban militia destroyed all buddah statues in the country despite an international outcry, including the two tallest which took twenty days to destroy using dynamite, rockets and tank shells.

Afghan Taliban militia's officials stand in front of the completely destroyed tallest standing Buddha statue in Bamiyan city, in central Afghanistan, 26 March 2001. The Taliban militia destroyed all buddah statues in the country despite an international outcry, including the two tallest which took twenty days to destroy using dynamite, rockets and tank shells.

Pakistani pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Aziz (R) sits with tribesmen of north Waziristan during the second day of protests against the US drone attack in Islamabad, on December 10, 2010, in Islamabad. The US drone strikes are deeply controversial in Pakistan and the identities of those killed are often impossible to confirm independently.

A Pakistani pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Aziz (C) arrives to join tribesmen of north Waziristan on the second day of protests against the US drone attacks in Islamabad on December 10, 2010. The US drone strikes are deeply controversial in Pakistan and the identities of those killed are often impossible to confirm independently.

Pakistani pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Aziz addresses the tribesmen from north Waziristan in Islamabad on December 10, 2010, during the second day of protest against the US drone attacks. The US drone strikes are deeply controversial in Pakistan and the identities of those killed are often impossible to confirm independently. AFP PHOTO/Farooq NAEEM.

Pakistani pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Aziz (C) leads a prayer with tribesmen of north Waziristan, on a street in Islamabad on December 10, 2010, on the second day of protests against the US drone attack. The US drone strikes are deeply controversial in Pakistan and the identities of those killed are often impossible to confirm independently.

This general view from a hilltop shows the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Afghans man work on the land in front of the empty niche of the 174-foot Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban, at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan on October 15, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Anti-war protesters at a demonstration on the 9th anniversary of the Afghanistan war outside an armed forces recruiting station in Hollywood on October 6, 2010. President Obama is expected to mount a fresh review of strategy on Afghanistan by the end of the year, but no major adjustments are expected. The current NATO-led strategy is designed to push Taliban insurgents out of major towns in the south and east while building up Afghan government security forces so that American troops can start withdrawing by July 2011. So far 561 foreign troops have been killed in the Afghan war in 2010, according to a tally by independent website icasualties. org, as the toll from the nine-year Taliban-led insurgency worsens. This year's toll is the highest on record since the war began in late 2001 with a US-led invasion toppling the Taliban regime after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders following the September 11 attacks.

ZHARI DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 13: Spc. Daniel Riggs of Houston,Texas sits with his rifle as the sniper with the US Army's 101st Airborne Division scopes out distant figures suspected of being Taliban militants October 13, 2010 at a field base in Zhari district west of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne, the storied 'Black Hearts' that won fame on D-Day and in other battles, are currently spread out in the Taliban-infused badlands west of Kandahar, attempting to sway the hearts and minds of the local populace even as Taliban militants continue their attacks in the restive area.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander and the head of NATO in Afghanistan General David Petraeus speaks to the media at his office at ISAF headquarters in Kabul on August 31, 2010. An alarming rise in the death toll of foreign soldiers in Afghanistan shows the Taliban feel threatened and are fighting for survival, the commander of foreign troops in the country said on August 31. The number of American troops killed fighting the Taliban in the last four days hit 21 on August with the deaths of four US soldiers in the east of the country, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. The total number of foreign troops to die in the war is now 484, compared to 521 for all of 2009, an AFP count shows. US General David Petreaus said the intensified fighting was a reflection of Taliban desperation as the alliance poured more resources into Afghanistan in an effort to speed an end to the war nearing almost a decade old.

Activists from different Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) hold placards during a protest against the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban regime, in front of the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad, 13 March 2001. Protestors condemned the destruction of Afghan heritage and demanded Taliban to preserve other historical monuments inside Afghanistan. UNESCO acknowledged the international community had failed to stop the Taliban from destroying the ancient statues branding it ' a crime against culture.

Burqa-clad Afghan women walk past the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

A view of the empty seat of the Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban, at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood on October 15, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Anti-war protesters hold a demonstration on the 9th anniversary of the Afghanistan war outside an armed forces recruiting station in Hollywood on October 6, 2010. President Obama is expected to mount a fresh review of strategy on Afghanistan by the end of the year, but no major adjustments are expected. The current NATO-led strategy is designed to push Taliban insurgents out of major towns in the south and east while building up Afghan government security forces so that American troops can start withdrawing by July 2011. So far 561 foreign troops have been killed in the Afghan war in 2010, according to a tally by independent website icasualties. org, as the toll from the nine-year Taliban-led insurgency worsens. This year's toll is the highest on record since the war began in late 2001 with a US-led invasion toppling the Taliban regime after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders following the September 11 attacks.

The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niches where the 174-foot Buddhas, which were destroyed by the Taliban, once stood are pictured on October 16, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

An Afghan man stands near an opening of a cave next to the empty niche of the 174-foot Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban, at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan on October 15, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Bamiyan stretches below the opening of a cave next to the empty niche of the 174-foot Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban, at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan on October 15, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Former soldiers who are now anti-war protesters at a demonstration on the 9th anniversary of the Afghanistan war outside an armed forces recruiting station in Hollywood on October 6, 2010. President Obama is expected to mount a fresh review of strategy on Afghanistan by the end of the year, but no major adjustments are expected. The current NATO-led strategy is designed to push Taliban insurgents out of major towns in the south and east while building up Afghan government security forces so that American troops can start withdrawing by July 2011. So far 561 foreign troops have been killed in the Afghan war in 2010, according to a tally by independent website icasualties. org, as the toll from the nine-year Taliban-led insurgency worsens. This year's toll is the highest on record since the war began in late 2001 with a US-led invasion toppling the Taliban regime after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders following the September 11 attacks.

Afghan workers rest in front of the empty niche of the 174-foot Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban, at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan on October 15, 2008. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

A painting of Buddha which was damaged by the Taliban is seen at the top of a cave's entrance in Bamiyan on October 15, 2008 at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

A media crew film inside the empty seat of the Buddha, destroyed by the Taliban, in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008 at the cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

An Afghan woman and children walk past the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 7, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

Afghan girls walk past the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 6, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.

An anti-war protester joins a demonstration on the 9th anniversary of the Afghanistan war outside an armed forces recruiting station in Hollywood on October 6, 2010. President Obama is expected to mount a fresh review of strategy on Afghanistan by the end of the year, but no major adjustments are expected. The current NATO-led strategy is designed to push Taliban insurgents out of major towns in the south and east while building up Afghan government security forces so that American troops can start withdrawing by July 2011. So far 561 foreign troops have been killed in the Afghan war in 2010, according to a tally by independent website icasualties. org, as the toll from the nine-year Taliban-led insurgency worsens. This year's toll is the highest on record since the war began in late 2001 with a US-led invasion toppling the Taliban regime after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders following the September 11 attacks.

An Afghan elderly man poses in front of the empty seat of the Buddha destroyed by the Taliban in Bamiyan on July 6, 2008. The cave-monasteries of Bamiyan and the niche where the 174-foot Buddha once stood. International teams of scientists are working to consolidate the cliff and repair the damage done by the Taliban. Though the Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan, other archaeological excavations are continuing both in Bamiyan Valley and throughout the country.