The Taliban : War and Religion in Afghanistan

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, US allegations that Osama bin Laden's network was responsible, and the subsequent military attacks on Afghanistan, the Taliban have become the focal point of the West's difficult relations with the Islamic world. This book helps us understand what has been happening inside the country, the nature of radical Islamic movements, and the very difficult questions ahead which war cannot answer.

The Taliban are a manifestation of the growth of radical Islam worldwide. This book explores what they stand for and the factors leading to their rapid rise to military and political dominance over Afghanistan. It considers the influences on their ideology and describes the continuing war.

“Provides Western policy makers with a less sensationalised and more objective account of the Taliban and how best to deal with them.” —Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, Director of The Muslim Institute, London

“Deserves attention as a first study of an Islamic phenomenon which is repressive in its social and racial policies, and as hostile to Western, as it is to Communist, values.” —Hugh Carless, former British Ambassador to Afghanistan

“An objective and immensely informative account.... Highly recommended.” —Jonathan Fryer, The Liberator

“Particularly good on the equivocal role played by the Americans.” —The Sunday Telegraph