What form of government was in place in Afghanistan prior to the U.S. intervention in 2001?

Prior to the U.S. intervention in 2001, Afghanistan was under the control of the Taliban, which is a fundamentalist group that established a theocratic regime. In this system, the government was based on Islamic law (Sharia) as interpreted by the Taliban leaders, who claimed authority and legitimacy based on their interpretation of Islam. This theocratic governance heavily influenced Afghan society and politics, leading to strict adherence to their interpretation of religious laws and customs, often at the expense of individual freedoms and rights, particularly for women.

The other forms of government listed, such as democracy, monarchy, or dictatorship, do not accurately represent the nature of Taliban rule. Democracy implies a government based on popular vote and individual rights, which was not present in Afghanistan at that time. Monarchy suggests a hereditary system led by a king or queen, which also did not reflect the political situation. The term dictatorship often refers to authoritarian regimes, but in this context, the Taliban’s rule was primarily theocratic, making the correct designation a theocracy.