One should ask, “What are the goals of the Taliban?” Primarily, there are different groups of Taliban: one in Afghanistan and another in Pakistan. However, they share different goals and methods. The Taliban in Pakistan tend to boast more of their deeds, but it is the Taliban in Afghanistan who cause more damage to their nation. The Taliban and the TTP may differ from their methods, however their overarching goals are alike. The original goal of the Taliban was to help Afghan refugees from the Soviet Union. However, as the years passed, the Taliban gradually aspired for power.
The Pakistani Taliban’s primary goal is to gain power. To achieve their goal, the Taliban are trying to take over the current government in Pakistan. Raza Rumi stated, “Their primary target is the Pakistani state and its military. It resents the fact that it has an alliance with the West and wants the law of Sharia (Moral code and law of Islam) to be imposed in Pakistan.” The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) opposition towards the government and its allies has galvanized them beyond their differences. They reject Pakistan’s constitution, they reject its democratic process in Pakistan.” (Cable News Network) Raza Rumi’s statements indicate that the TTP are against democracy and the fact that Pakistan is in an alliance with the Western countries.
According to the CNN, the TTP is fighting to overthrow Pakistan’s government via a terrorist campaign. They claimed to be responsible for an assassination of a Saudi Arabian diplomat, as well as the attack on Malala Yousafzi for wanting education for girls. The TTP are an active group trying to take Pakistan by force and will claim all crimes that have been done to its people.
The Taliban in Afghanistan have goals for power in order to disarm Afghanistan and turn it into a warzone that is ruled by Islamic Law.(Highbeam Research) They express their laws with uses of offensive tactics, including civilian massacres, terrorist attacks, forced evictions, and torture. The Taliban became even crueler since they took over 85% of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s initial goal was to help Afghan refugees from the Soviet Union. However as the years passed, they aspired for power. The two organizations both take up the same names but their goals differ to each other in several ways. The one in Pakistan are known as the TTP and the one in Afghanistan are known as the Taliban, which is more wide known to the world. The Taliban’s tactics are more aggressive and the TTP are more alike to boasts and claims then actual action.
By Stephen Park / The Runner
