Taliban : the story of the Afghan warlords ([New ed.])

An exploration of the overwhelming complexity of Afghan politics, this title explains how it came in to being, how it is sustained and how Osama bin Laden has risen to such a figure of absolute power.

Ahmed Rashid clarifies the often confusing racial and religious tensions that dominate the fractious land, and describes why the drug trade has exacerbated an already untenable situation.

Rashid argues that Taliban is incapable of reform, and that, in the crisis after the autumn 2001 suicide plane bombings, it may implode due to defections.

With the Northern Alliance an unpredictable alternative, Rashid concludes that without a multi-tribal government in which bordering states do not seek predominant influence, there will never be peace.