Taliban
UK: ˈtælɪbæn | US: ˈtɑːlɪbɑːn
n. A fundamentalist Islamic militant group originating in Afghanistan.
n. (historically) Islamic students or seekers of religious knowledge in Pashto-speaking regions.
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The word "Taliban" derives from Pashto ṭālibān (طالبان), the plural of ṭālib (طالب), meaning "student" in Arabic. Historically, it referred to religious students in madrasas (Islamic schools) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group adopted this name to emphasize their identity as "seekers of religious knowledge," though their ideology later evolved into militant extremism. The suffix -an is a Pashto plural marker, reflecting the word’s regional linguistic adaptation.
The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Many Taliban members were originally trained in Pakistani madrasas.
The Taliban imposed strict Islamic laws during their rule.
Negotiations between the Taliban and foreign governments have been contentious.
The word "Taliban" literally means "students" in Pashto.