Starting in 1979-- Civil war. Russians installed a puppet. 1 million Afghans killed in struggle against the Russians. Moslems particularly prominent in this.

2003--US topples Taliban. Karzai eventually elected. Not a puppet of the US. Probably more popular than the Taliban.

Main problem is that neither Karzai, the US, nor the Taliban are actually popular with most Afghans--who just want to be left alone. But with opium poppies the main cash crop, none of the above are willing to leave them alone--but there's no other comparable source of income for the Afghans.