The Taliban are an Islamic fundamentalist political and military organization. They ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, during the years the novel takes place. Rather than paint a one-dimensional portrait of the Taliban as an evil enemy, Shooting Kabul gives the reader a nuanced portrait of a group that, after September 11, 2001, became synonymous with terrorism.

The book first depicts the Taliban as the dangerous group from which Fadi and his family are trying to escape. Soon, however, we learn that when Habib returned to Afghanistan in 1996, the Taliban—a hopeful group of young men eager to revitalize their country—helped him clear the poppy fields used for producing opium. We also learn that most of the Taliban are Pukhtuns like Habib, a detail that gives the reader insight into the culture of the Taliban, which includes codes of honor. Habib’s description of the Pukhtunwali tenet of melmastia—hospitality—gives insight as to why the Taliban protect Osama bin Laden. The narrative reveals that bin Laden took advantage of this code to gain the Taliban’s protection.

Through dialogue, Senzai informs the reader that in 1996, the Taliban got rid of “the corrupt and brutal warlords that took over the country after the Soviets left” (345).