Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)

The **Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan** (Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي امارت, Da Afġānistān Islāmī Amārāt) is an Islamic state governed by the Taliban that is the de facto current government of Afghanistan since 2021, and has also ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

Between 1996 and 2001, it controlled approximately 90% of the country as an insurgency, whereas remaining regions in the northeast were held by the Northern Alliance, which maintained broad international recognition as a continuation of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. After the September 11 attacks and subsequent declaration of a "War on Terrorism" by the United States, international opposition to the regime drastically increased, with diplomatic recognition from the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan being rescinded.

The Islamic Emirate was overthrown by the Northern Alliance on 17 December 2001, which had been bolstered by the ISAF coalition established after a U.S.-led invasion of the country two months prior. The Taliban has continued to refer to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in official communications from 2001 until 2021.

During the 2021 Taliban offensive, the Islamic Emirate regained effective control of the governance of Afghanistan following the Fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021.

## Related pages

- Cabinet of Afghanistan
- IEA

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**:
__
- **conventional long name**: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- **common name**: Afghanistan
- **image map**: Afghanistan (orthographic projection).svg
- **status**: List of states with limited recognition, Partially recognized state
- **life span**: 1996–2001
- **capital**: Kabul
- **national motto**: _Shahada, lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muḥammadun rasūlu l-Lāh_
 (Classical Arabic, Arabic)
"There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."
- **largest city**: Kabul
- **national anthem**: Afghan National Anthem, None
- **official languages**: Pashto, Arabic
- **religion**: Sunni Islam
- **demonym**: Afghan
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Islamic state, Islamic theocracy administered by _shura_ councils
- **common languages**: Dari
- **title leader**: Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful)
- **leader1**: Mohammed Omar
- **year leader1**: 1996–2001
- **title deputy**: Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Prime Minister
- **deputy1**: Mohammad Rabbani
- **year deputy1**: 1996–2001
- **deputy2**: Abdul Kabir (acting)
- **year deputy2**: 2001
- **legislature**: none
- **stat year1**: 2000
- **stat area1**: 587578
- **stat year2**: 2001
- **stat pop2**: 26,813,057
- **p1**: Islamic State of Afghanistan
- **s1**: Islamic State of Afghanistan
- **flag p1**: Flag of Afghanistan (1992–2001).svg
- **flag s1**: Flag of Afghanistan (1992–2001).svg
- **currency**: Afghan afghani, Afghani
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in Afghanistan, +93
- **image flag**: Flag of Taliban.svg
- **alt flag**: Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- **event pre**: Mohammad Omar proclaimed Commander of the Faithful
- **date pre**: 3 April 1996
- **date start**: 27 September 1996
- **event start**: Taliban's rise to power, Capture of Kabul
- **event1**: Name changed to "Emirate"
- **date event1**: 29 October 1997
- **event2**: United States invasion of Afghanistan, Invasion begins
- **date event2**: 7 October 2001
- **event3**: Siege of Kabul (2001), Fall of Kabul
- **date event3**: 13 November 2001
- **event4**: Battle of Tora Bora
- **date event4**: 17 December 2001
- **title representative**: Vice Emir
- **year representative1**: 1996–2001
- **representative1**: Abdul Ghani Baradar