The political situation in Afghanistan needs to be examined through its historical background and ethnic diversity which exists throughout the country. The area which now exists as Afghanistan contained various ethnic groups that included Pashtuns and Tajiks and Uzbeks and Hazaras before any central Afghan government established control over the territory. The groups operated through their tribal connections and family networks and their regional systems of governance instead of following a national government. The people maintained multiple power centers which operated independently from their centralized system of authority while their national identity developed through regional and ethnic ties that overshadowed any sense of shared national identity.

The 18th century saw Ahmad Shah Durrani establish modern Afghanistan through his unification efforts which created a new unified state. His consolidation of power relied on Pashtun tribal alliances and military expansion as his main sources of strength. The state framework created through this process established a system of governance which allowed Pashtuns to dominate all areas of power. The state included non-Pashtun groups as members yet the groups maintained limited access to power within the governmental system. The resulting imbalance created a foundation which would later produce enduring complaints from the affected parties.

The death of Durrani led to Afghanistan experiencing difficulties in maintaining its national unity. The rulers who followed him maintained only superficial authority across territories that extended beyond primary........

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