Re: Drawing the parallels between Syed Ahmad Bareilvi and Talibans
I don’t think this is the reason Pashtuns accepted Taliban rule. Many Tajiks are/were as much radicalized as Pashtuns but they never accepted Talibanic rule and fought all-out wars against them.
Actually, the reason Pashtuns rejected Syed Ahmed and accepted Talibanic rule is that Syed Ahmed was NOT Pashtun.
There is another lesson. Islamic extremists, whether Syed Ahmed or Taliban or Qaeda; are their own worst enemies.