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The Taliban was originally organized in Kandahar, September, 1994. Kandahar is a southern province of Afghanistan. According to historical records its principle members were all graduates of Pakistani Islamic schools controlled by the fundamentalist of their time. Comprised primarily of Pashtuns, just one of the many ethnic groups which live in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Omar became the Taliban leader in its inception. Mohammad Omar and the Taliban’s primary goal was the creation of an Islamic revolution within Afghanistan. Afghanistan, at the time, had been ruled by The Soviet Union. The soviet union, which had been providing aid to Afghanistan as early as 1919 in the form of small arms, ammunition, aircraft, and millions in gold rubles to support the resistance during British War; finally came into power through the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The PDPA is a pro-Moscow communist party. In 1978 the PDPA seized power in a military coup against the then Afghan president. Immediately following the PDPA coup, The Soviet Union took an active interest in the socialist revolution unfolding in Afghanistan as war allies. But instead of allies Russia wanted more and invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and handed power over a man named Karmal, who was the leader of the more moderate faction of the PDPA. The Taliban was determined to overthrow the Russian-backed government and replace it with an Islamic theocracy. The Taliban form of theocracy was even stricter than what could be found in other Islamic countries. They applied Sharia, which is the harshest way possible for enforcement of Laws. Soon after, in 1989 the Soviet Union withdrew its influence, leaving the PDPA government to fend for itself. The Taliban's popularity with the Afghan people surprised even the other warlords and warring factions. Many Afghans, had grow to become weary of conflict and anarchy; and were relieved to see corrupt and often brutal warlords replaced by the devout Taliban leadership, who has seen success in eliminating government corruption, and restoring peace. The Taliban, under the direction of Muhammad Omar, brought about this order through the institution of a very strict interpretation of Sharia law. Public executions became regular event at public arenas or soccer stadiums. Meaningless activities, like Kite Flying, were outlawed. In order to root out "non-Islamic" influence, music, Internet, and television were banned. All men were required to wear beards, and subjected to beatings if they didn't comply with this rules. The constitution itself also has many problems. While on paper it does make drastic proclamations of civil and political rights, equality, and democracy; however, there is even little stated about creating the institutions to uphold or implement these provisions. Without any means to actually enforce these laws, the constitution carries little weight in authority - perhaps none in the face of the tribal warlords. Women are especially at a disadvantage. Only a handful of women have benefited from increased opportunities in vocations and education and they are largely restricted to Kabul. There is little reason to expect that their stated 'equality' in the Constitution will have any positive effect either. The vast majority of Afghan women remain illiterate and uneducated and under oppressive traditions. When the Taliban took Kabul what was most shocking to the West was the Taliban's treatment of women. Women were barred from working outside the home. Women were also prohibited from leaving their home without a male relative; they forbade girls to go to school. Moreover, creating a crisis in healthcare and education; those that disobeyed the rule of Law, did so at the risked being beaten or even shot by officers of the Ministry for The Protection of Virtue. All this, according to the Taliban, was to safeguard women and their honor. Although the Taliban managed to bring most of Afghanistan people together, they were unable to end the fighting among the warlords. With Sustain drought and a very harsh winter brought famine and increased the flow of refugees to Pakistan. The Taliban did nothing to improve the conditions in cities they controlled, where access to clean water and food could be available to all; employment in the country actually declined during the Taliban’s Rise to Power. Taliban’s Rise to Power By the summer of 1994 the Taliban had full control of the government in Kabul and Muhammad Omar was still its chief minister, but a civil war caused by the warring factions had brought the economy to a standstill. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia officially recognized the Taliban government in Kabul. Pakistan's leaders supported the Taliban with ammunition, fuel, and food. In a little over two years, the Taliban controlled 60% of Afghanistan. Ahmad Shah Masoud controlled he opposition forces under the northeast of the country. Taliban forces mounted an offensive against opposition forces in 1998 and nearly sparked a war with neighboring Iran when an Iranian diplomat was killed during the fighting; consequently, this diplomat was known to have supplied Masoud's forces with food and ammunition. Iran responded to the killing massing troops along its border with Afghanistan. Although this crisis had subsided, tensions between the Taliban and Iran remained high for years to come. Masoud's opposition forces became known to the Taliban as the United Front or Northern Alliance in late 1999. Despite attempts to broker a peace settlement, fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance continued through 2000 with the Taliban now controlling 90% of Afghanistan. During early 2000, the other warring factions agreed to enter into a coalition government with the Taliban, but by mid-year the peace talks broke down and the Taliban renewed its offensive against opposition forces. While continuing some of the fierce fighting along border of Tajikistan, the Taliban and Northern Alliance forces fought up to early 2001. In April 2001, Masoud stated that he did not rule out a peace dialogue with the Taliban, or even of setting up a provisional government jointly with the Taliban, but that Pakistan would have to stop interfering in the conflict first. Masoud was assassinated on 9 September 2001, by two men claiming to be Moroccan journalists. His killers are thought to have been agents of al-Qaeda acting in concert with the plotters of the 11 September 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.