Written by one of the department of the armys leading intelligence and military analysts on the taliban, this book covers the groups complete history, including its formation, ideology, and political power, as well as the origins of its current conflict with the united states. Aug 22, 2018 the reallife story behind lone survivor. A well researched book debunking some of the common myths associated with the taliban. The talibans military organization demonstrates a good level of professionalism in the regions where they dominate. The taliban subsequently won control of kandahar, and by 1996 they had gained control over much of afghanistan, including kabul, either by force or through forming alliances with other mujahidin. That said, army history will be the final arbiter of language usage and style. As first reported in newsweek by ron moreau and sami yousufzai on dec. Natos exit strategy is centered on the idea of negotiating with the taliban to forestall alqaeda reacquiring an operating base. And his unfearful description of the intensive involvement of pakistans army and isi in afghanistan is reflective of a true journalistic spirit. The best books on understanding the war in afghanistan five. It provides an abridged history of afghanistan, from the emergence of civilization to the united states overthrow of the taliban in late 2001. The history is almost entirely political and military in nature, recounting shifting dynasties and governments and successive invasions by empires and great powers.
The most extreme and radical of all islamic organizations, the taliban inspires fascination, controversy, and especially fear in both the muslim world and the west. Document 8 page 3 omar is reportedly the primary figure driving the talibans continued support of alqaeda and osama bin laden. Correspondent ahmed rashid brings the shadowy world of the talibanthe worlds most extreme and radical. List of books and articles about taliban online research. Barfields book will become the single best source on afghan history and politics virtually. And while wortman spends a much of his article evaluating the new book, he also draws some compelling comparisons between americas fight against the chiricahua apache in the 1880s and the counter insurgency currently being waged in the.
This book describes one such movement that has been condemned in the west. So we decided to take a look at exactly where the taliban came from, how they. Numerous reports indicate mullah rabbani, omars deputy. This book provides the first overview of the history and development of islam in afghanistan.
Taliban history of war and peace in afghanistan felix kuehn felix kuehn is the coeditor of my life with the taliban, the autobiography of the former taliban envoy to pakistan, mullah abdul salam zaeef hurst, 2010. Oct 20, 2017 oct 20, 2017 watch bowe bergdahls first video interview since his kidnapping. Correspondent ahmed rashid brings the shadowy world of the taliban into sharp focus in this enormously interesting and revealing book. The taliban from the arabic word for student, talibare fundamentalist sunni muslims, mostly from afghanistans pashtun tribes. Before he came to be known as americas enemy number one, osama bin laden helped the american cause against the soviets in afghanistan subscribe. Learning from history salafism is the inspiration for the taliban ideology, and both have manifested themselves in the battlegrounds of. It takes you back to the warring tribal factions through the russian invasion and the reasons why the taliban was formed. An extraordinary little document is making the rounds among the taliban of afghanistan. If you are a student of central asian affairs, history, studies. Nov 28, 20 the taliban are one of the most reviled, controversial, and arguably misunderstood, political movements in history. I highly recommend this book, and all the other books written by.
The books focus on the inextricable link between alqaeda and the taliban, however, comes at a critical time. Suicide bombings and roadside attacks become more frequent and. Then it explains how they governed the country with there laws e. This book is an important contribution to the history of the americanled war in. Shedding light on their doctrine, it analyzes the rise of the taliban and their effect on afghan society, their impact on afghanistans neighbors, and their troubled relationship with the united nations. A military history from alexander the great to the fall of the taliban is an exceptional look at a subject too many americans can claim ignorance, if only by virtue of geography. The only political solution currently on offer from the international community is, according to lee, a powersharing agreement with the taliban and other radical islamic jihadists. A ragtag collection of clerics and madrasa students, this obscure movement emerged out of the rubble of the cold war to shock the world with their draconian islamic order. Bergdahl was held by the taliban for five years after deserting his base in afghanistan in 2009. The taliban emerged as a powerful movement in late 1994 when pakistan chose the taliban to guard a convoy trying to open a trade route from pakistan to central asia. A predominantly pashtun movement, the taliban came to prominence in afghanistan in the autumn of 1994. Newly formed islamic militia, the taliban, rises to power on promises of peace.
Militant islam, oil and fundamentalism in central asia. The explosive firsthand account of americas secret history in afghanistan. The taliban remain one of the most elusive forces in modern history. The afghan taliban and the tehriki taliban pakistan differ greatly in their history, leadership and goals although they share a common interpretation of islam and are both predominantly pashtun. Jan 01, 2010 james fergusson brings us a refreshingly different view on the taliban and their history and role in afghanistan. History of taliban following the soviet invasion of afghanistan in 1979, the taliban emerged as a resistance movement aiming to eject the soviet troops from afghanistan. After reading this book i feel i have a much better understanding of afghansitan and the issues facing the troops on the ground. Adhere to the chicago manual of style 15th edition.
A cultural and political history princeton studies in. It is commonly believed that they first appeared in religious seminaries mostly paid for by. N o man who has read a page of indian history will ever prophesy. In september, it launches the largest attack in its 57year history. The taliban first took control of the capital kabul in 1996, and ruled most of the country within two years. The afghan taliban have no affiliation with the tehriki taliban pakistan and routinely deny any connection to the ttp. Most afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the taliban for upholding traditional. My life with the taliban offers a counternarrative to the standard accounts of. The taliban was one of the mujahideen factions that formed during the soviet occupation and the internal fighting in afghanistan. The story of the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the taliban is an autobiographical book by malala yousafzai, cowritten with.
Rashid has done a fairly good amount of research on the taliban and its style of rule. This book deserves appreciation for its minute accounts of the happenings in afghanistan under the taliban. If you want to understand the history behind the taliban then this book is for you. Taliban urdu pdf book by ahmad rashid download kutubistan.
Taliban, ultraconservative political and religious faction that emerged in afghanistan in the mid1990s following the withdrawal of soviet troops, the collapse of afghanistans communist regime, and the subsequent breakdown in civil order. The myth of the talibanalqaeda merger, 19702010 hurst, 2012. Three years before al qaedas attacks on the united states on 911, u. The taliban dominates large swaths of afghanistan and a large part of pakistans federally administered tribal areas, semiautonomous tribal lands along the afghanpakistan border that serve as training grounds for terrorists. The taliban established a government headed by mullah muhammad omar, the groups spiritual leader and a military leader as well until his death c. List of books and articles about afghan history online. November, 2001 taliban forces abandon the capital kabul and northern alliance forces take control of the city. Mar 11, 2020 the taliban was formed in the early 1990s by an afghan faction of mujahideen, islamic fighters who had resisted the soviet occupation of afghanistan 197989 with the covert backing of the u. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books the. In a country with a long history of determined, effective fighters, todays taliban are without question the strongest and most effective guerilla movement in afghanistans history.
With the united states and pakistan providing considerable financial and military support, the afghan mujahideen were able to inflict heavy losses on the soviet troops. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan from 16thcentury mughal rulers, to daring victorian spies and todays taliban, the travel writer and historian picks his favourites from a rich. Rashids is an exceptional book that sorts out a multitude of questions for the noncentral asian specialist trying to make sense of current headlines. This is i think the first book of the world which is written against taliban by a muslim. The economy remained in ruins, and most government services ceased. For over 2,500 years, the forbidding territory of afghanistan has served as a vital crossroads for armies and has witnessed historyshaping clashes between.
In may nato forces killed the top taliban field commander, mullah dadullah, but taliban forces mounted some guerrilla attacks on the outskirts of the capital and in the north during 2007. Lees wellwritten book is rich in rewarding detail and will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of afghanistan. The taliban granted the arab terrorist organization al qaeda the right to use afghanistan as a base. Barfields book, which is a cultural and political history, was published in the. The story of the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the taliban is an autobiographical book by malala yousafzai, cowritten with christina lamb. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan from 16thcentury mughal rulers, to daring victorian spies and todays taliban, the travel writer and. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books. James fergusson brings us a refreshingly different view on the taliban and their history and role in afghanistan.