The Taliban: An Exploration of Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

Ayoeridani: I have seen this book and have wanted to read it for a long time. But there were always other titles that I thought piqued my interest more. But with the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban, this book suddenly became imperative material for one trying to understand the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The author does a great job explaining the culture, the tribes, and ancient beliefs that have continued since time immemorial. The author explains what the Deobandi is and what Pashtunwali is. He tells us why these concepts that the western world never even bothered to understand as so important.
The book is rich with history not just of Afghanistan and Pakistan, but he writes extensively about South and Central Asia too. He tells us why these countries and their relationship to Afghanistan were important and still are important in the rise and fall of Afghanistan.

The author talks of Afghans and the troubles they have faced during years of conflicts, occupations, and civil war. Their relationship to the world at large and to the peoples of countries with whom they share common borders. Then, there's the madrassa story, where...

United States on Sep 20, 2021

Mike H: As with his earlier book "Jihad," author Ahmed Rashid illustrates his unbounded knowledge of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, along withe the relevant players in all the local terrorist groups, including the Taliban. Rashid, whose fluid, conversational style resembles that of Thomas Friedman ("From Beirut to Jerusalem," "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" and "The World is Flat" among others) expertly weaves the group's history in context with the war against the Soviets and, later, the entrance of the United States military into Afghanistan.
My only problem with the book (in this case the updated 2nd edition) is the 17th and final chapter, which ruins a lot of what Rashid had written up to that juncture.
Cases in point:
• Throughout the book there are many references and anecdotes of days in which hundreds and even thousands are killed in a single day during the repressive, Sharia-driven Taliban's merciless rule. Yet he waxes on about a day in which nine U.S. soldiers are killed and 15 wounded in a day in 2008, when more than 150,000 troops were in country. Not a tragic loss in proportion to the troops involved and when compared to the days before they came to the...

United States on Dec 19, 2015

Michael Griswold: Ahmed Rashid has written the gold standard of books on the Taliban. He charts the rise of Al Qaeda from the Soviet war in Afghanistan to Afghan civil war, to a ruling government of sorts until after September 11th 2001. That alone would be impressive, but Rashid goes a step further by detailing the economic and security impacts the Taliban movement has had on the regional and global environment.

No one from Afghan warlords to United States Presidents comes across as a choirboy in the rise of the Taliban or even as soon as they took power. What really comes across is that Afghanistan has been a train-wreck for decades and that history should be ignored by policy makers at their own risk. Afghanistan isn’t just some isolated corner of the map, but as Afghanistan’s problems are starting to leak into other countries like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and other former Soviet Republics, Iran, and even the United States.

Although Rashid has added a 2000-2009 section on the Taliban’s reemergence, some readers may want to know his thoughts on the post 2009 period try his 2013 release Pakistan on the Brink, but this is still a great backgrounder on the complicated land of...

United States on Nov 23, 2015

Bravo23: New York Times best seller #1! The best thing about this book, it had been written by Ahmed Rashid back in 99'; however, this is the second edition. This has an added chapter, plus new updates to maps and also a brand new forward/prologue. You'll not be disappointed with this book.

This book begins back before the Taliban, was ever the Taliban. Starting in the days just after the Soviet-Afghan war. I highly recommend this book, and all the other books written by: Ahmed Rashid.

If you are a student of central Asian affairs, history, studies... or just a student of foreign affairs, international studies/relations... buy this book! Search here on Amazon: Ahmed Rashid, and purchase all '5' of his books. No man, has a better knowledge on the area. A lot of other books I read, recommend Mr Rashid's books.

You will not be disappointed.

United States on Jan 23, 2014

Robert Todrick: The media all too often portrays the Taliban as a bunch of bumbling tribal people of no real consequence.
Far from it...there are a lot of them, they have lots of money and they have a definite 'plan'.
And like it or not...we (the west) have helped them get where they are.

Canada on Oct 28, 2013