How many Taliban are there?

[OldWiseGuy]

Current estimates are only 60,000 fighters. Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

 

[SamanthaAnastasia]

Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

At least enough to screw in a light bulb

 

[SamanthaAnastasia]

Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

I jest idk I’ve heard chatter saying one of the challenges is they’re stretched waaaaay too thin

 

[Jesus is my Superhero]

Pakistan has madrases pumping them out indoctrinated, but illiterate. Before the U.S. invasion, the Paki intel services were calling the shots with many of the Taliban groups.


Edit: They have a hive mind over there too.

 

[inquiring mind]

Current estimates are only 60,000 fighters. Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

It looks as though a couple dozen could have done it.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Current estimates are only 60,000 fighters. Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

So they won using sneaky tactics, and now have to be stationary.

 

[Gene2memE]

Current estimates are only 60,000 fighters.

Your numbers need some illuminating:

The Taliban have somewhere from 50,000 to 60,000 "core" fighters. But there are also anywhere from 80,000 to 160,000 militia style combatants with aligned groups.

The Taliban is sort of a franchise operation - you bring some men along and they will help arm them and set them up to control a territory. The territory is then "yours", but the Taliban get to control it. EDIT: These are 'holding troops' - the can occupy ground, but can't really conquer new territory.

There are also many as half a million "armed sympathizers" from tribal groups both within Afghanistan and in some of the surrounding regions (mostly across the Pakistan and Turkmenistan borders, also in Iran). These guys will basically help the Taliban assert control, even if they're not Taliban themselves.

 

[JIMINZ]

Current estimates are only 60,000 fighters. Enough to maintain control of the entire country? It seems to me that they might be stretched pretty thin considering the vast territory they have control over. Thoughts?

They apparently have forgotten their own history, the Russians were fighting there for 20 yrs, then we came in and fought for another 20, now they think they are in a position of power to take on the task of defending it with only 60 -75,000, good luck with that.
They will be fighting against Al Qaeda, Isis, Hamas, Hezbollah for control of the Country to say nothing of China, Russia, Iran

 

[d taylor]

Is that not according to Biden talliebon or tallybon, not sure how it would actually be spelled the way he says it.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Your numbers need some illuminating:

The Taliban have somewhere from 50,000 to 60,000 "core" fighters. But there are also anywhere from 80,000 to 160,000 militia style combatants with aligned groups.

The Taliban is sort of a franchise operation - you bring some men along and they will help arm them and set them up to control a territory. The territory is then "yours", but the Taliban get to control it. EDIT: These are 'holding troops' - the can occupy ground, but can't really conquer new territory.

There are also many as half a million "armed sympathizers" from tribal groups both within Afghanistan and in some of the surrounding regions (mostly across the Pakistan and Turkmenistan borders, also in Iran). These guys will basically help the Taliban assert control, even if they're not Taliban themselves.

Let's hope those 'local militia's' that are opposing the Taliban gain support.