 | Islamic State of Afghanistan 2001 The fundamentalist Taliban regime was not recognised internationally and collapsed after American bombardments following the terrorist destruction of New York's World Trade Center at the end of 2001. A provisional government was formed with interim leader Muhammad Kazai, who invited former King Muhammad Zahir Shah back home. The new National Flag was based on the flag of 1930-1973 with the addition of the "Shahada", the Muslim Article of Faith, above the mehrab. |  |