Regarding the issue of history of the Afghan Taliban movement (the middle and second half of the 1990s)

The research focuses on the history of the Afghan Taliban from the emergence of the movement to the assertion of authority in Kabul in the fall of 1996. For more than 50 years, the conflict in Afghanistan has been retaining its international relevance, including the sphere of regional security and particularly, security interests of the Russian Federation. In this regard, it is critical to build a scientific understanding of the internal and external causes of the emergence of the Afghan conflict main actor, the Taliban. It becomes particularly pressing after August 15, 2021, when the Taliban regained control over Kabul and the vast majority of the country’s provinces. The aim of the research is to examine and analyze the main motivations of the movement in the first stage of Taliban participation in the military-political process, as well as the root causes - both internal and external - for the emergence of the Taliban itself. Undoubtedly, since its emergence in 1994, the movement has radically transformed, but understanding of the individual periods of the movement’s history still remains important and relevant. Furthermore, the research considers the role and motives of Pakistan and other external actors in the formation of the Taliban. It also identifies the main ethnic, political, Pashtun tribal, religious, ideological, and regional characteristics of the Taliban. The article reviews the course of military and political events of the period indicated, and analyzes some aspects of Taliban power in Afghanistan in terms of ensuring security in Central Asia and Russia.