Islamic Union of Afghanistan

Not to be confused with the Islamic UnionThe Islamic Union of Afghanistan, also known as the Socialist Emirate of Afghanistan and formerly the Socialist Students of Afghanistan, is an Islamic libertarian Marxist society located in the Balkh Province of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It was first formed in 2019 as the Socialist Students of Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan in the city of Mazār-i-Sharīf in northern Afghanistan. It started off as a left-wing faction of the Taliban until it split off in 2020 and was renamed to the Islamic Union of Afghanistan. It is currently a member of the International Socialist Organization.
== Etymology ==
It was initially called the Socialist Students of Afghanistan when it was a faction within the Taliban. The word 'Taliban' translates to 'students' in English, so socialists in the Taliban became known as 'socialist students'. When it split from the Taliban and renamed itself to the Islamic Union of Afghanistan, it was named based on the fact it was an Islamic union of Afghans. The term Socialist Emirate of Afghanistan was first used to refer to the group by the Manchu Communard Public Press in 2021.
== Background ==
=== War in Afghanistan ===
The War in Afghanistan began in 2001 following the September 11 attacks on September 11, 2001 when the United States of America (USA) invaded the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The goal was to destroy Al-Qaeda and depose the Taliban. Instead, the USA ruined the country, committed war crimes (such as rape), and caused mass starvation. This led to various Afghans turning towards socialism again.
=== Taliban factionalism ===
In recent years, the Taliban has sufferred from major factionalism with hardline militants, more lenient leftists, and just political leaders fighting within the Taliban. A group of lenient leftists known as 'socialist students' emerged in 2017 and began fighting under the Taliban in the Balkh Province.
== History ==
=== 2019 ===
==== Official formation ====
On 8 February 2019, the Socialist Students of Afghanistan was given the thumbs up by higher ups in the Taliban to form a semi-independent organization still loyal to the Taliban. With this thumbs up, the Socialist Students of Afghanistan (SSA) was officially formed by socialists who joined the Taliban in opposition to the United States of America.
==== Early activities ====
On 19 February 2019, the Socialist Students of Afghanistan launched a raid on Mazār-i-Sharīf and seized several weapons from an American-Afghan military base. On 8 May 2019, the Socialist Students of Afghanistan attacked an Afghan National Army unit in Mazār-i-Sharīf and defeated it, managing to enter the city and hold it. Mazār-i-Sharīf stayed in the hands of the SSA for a day until 9 May 2019 when the Afghan National Army retook the city and captured 32 SSA fighters, all female. All 32 were raped by the Afghan National Army and then executed for treason at gunpoint on 12 May 2020, then throwing the bodies into a river outside the city. This war crime by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan caused Tajikistan to invade Mazār-i-Sharīf and arrest the Afghan soldiers responsible, then bringing them back to Tajikistan for imprisonment and withdrawing from the city. On 4 November 2019, the Manchu Commune endorsed the Islamic Union of Afghanistan.
=== 2020 ===
==== Separation from the Taliban ====
==== Seizure of territory ====
=== 2021 ===
==== Proclamation of an emirate ====
==== Skirmishes with Al-Qaeda ====
==== Taliban capture of Kabul ====
==== Balkh Conflict begins ====
=== 2022 ===
== Ideology ==
=== Islamic socialism ===
=== Libertarian Marxism ===
== Leadership ==
== International relations ==
=== Allies ===
==== State allies ====
==== Non-state allies ====
=== Opponents ===
==== State opponents ====
==== Non-state opponents ====
=== Others ===
==== State others ====
==== Non-state others ====