US allies in Afghanistan became terrorists only after the Cold War ended

Evidence

The United States was responsible for arming conservative Islamic groups to fight against the Soviet Union in the Cold War, devoting aid to the most violent and extremist groups because they were viewed as strong fighters against the Soviet army (Hirschkind and Mahmood 2002). Yet the impact of imperialism and colonialism on Muslim societies, including the oppression of Muslim women, becomes considerably less visible when cultural practices such as religion are held solely to blame. — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 46 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The Afghan war transformed marginal terrorists into an organized movement; CIA-trained Afghan militants became the later anti-US threat; American arms, Saudi funding, and Muslim demographics defeated the Soviets in Afghanistan (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• US Cold War aid armed the extremist groups that later became the Taliban #corroborates (0.93) — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 46
• U.S. Cold War arming of extremists enabled the Taliban’s rise #corroborates (0.92)