Afghan political history is marked by a series of conflicts and changes in governance. The country has experienced invasions, including the Soviet invasion in 1979, which led to a decade-long war. Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces, a civil war erupted, resulting in the rise of the Taliban in the mid-1990s, who imposed strict Islamic law. In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, the United States led a coalition to oust the Taliban. This initiated a period of reconstruction and the establishment of a democratic government. However, ongoing conflict and political instability have persisted, with the Taliban regaining power in 2021.