Which group has governed Afghanistan at times and is known as a militant political movement?

• A. Islamic State
• B. Haqqani Network
• C. Taliban
• D. Al-Qaeda

Answer: (C)

The group described is the Taliban. They began as a militant religious movement in Afghanistan and grew into a political-military force that, by the mid-1990s, controlled large parts of the country and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, effectively serving as the government until 2001 and again, in many areas, in more recent years. This combination of armed insurgency and formal governance is what makes them the best answer for a militant political movement that has governed Afghanistan.

The Haqqani Network is a powerful insurgent faction closely allied with the Taliban, known for attacks and influence, but it has not itself served as the official government. Al-Qaeda is a global terrorist organization that supported the Taliban and operated in the region, but it has not governed Afghanistan. ISIS-K operates as another militant group in parts of the country, not as the national government.