Reaping the Whirlwind: The Taliban Movement in AfghanistanCut adrift after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Afghanistan has become a political no-man's-land.Historically an artifical "buffer state, " Afghanistan has in recent years become the geopolitical playground of a variety of competitng interests - the Americans, the Saudis, Russians and Pakistanis, let alone drug barons, arms dealers and oil interests.Afghanistan's unstable and problematic history is now further complicated by the emergence of the Taliban - one of the most conservative and least understood Islamic movements in the world.The Taliban continues to grab the headlines, most notably for their appalling treatment of women, and their connections to Osama bin Laden. Investigative journalist Michael Griffin draws numerous interviews with key protganists, and offers a fasccinating eyewitness picture drawn from three extensive trips to Afghanistan. He paints the fullest picture yet of the Taliban movement, its origins, beliefs, religious and political ethos, and the character and impact of its particular brand of fundamentalism.In the process he reveals the controversial nature of the Taliban's links with the CIA, Saudi Arabia and other vested interests. Who is to blame for the present situation? What conspiracies and collusions led to this pass? The author's conclusion reveals his view of where the "smoking gun" is pointed. |
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Page 15
... Hizb - i Islami road blockade of the capital from Sorobi , 75 km to the east , at the entrance of the Silk Gorge on the Kabul - Jalalabad road . Sorobi is the key not just to Kabul but , through an old mountain road that begins there ...
... Hizb - i Islami road blockade of the capital from Sorobi , 75 km to the east , at the entrance of the Silk Gorge on the Kabul - Jalalabad road . Sorobi is the key not just to Kabul but , through an old mountain road that begins there ...
Page 18
... Islami to form Hizb - i Islami ( Party of Islam ) , a disciplined political organisation with friends in the Pakistani army and the influential Pakistani party , Jamaat - i Islami . It then split in two itself , when Yunus Khalis , a ...
... Islami to form Hizb - i Islami ( Party of Islam ) , a disciplined political organisation with friends in the Pakistani army and the influential Pakistani party , Jamaat - i Islami . It then split in two itself , when Yunus Khalis , a ...
Page 21
... religious views . Hizb - i Islami established an overpowering presence both in the camps and the aid distribution network , and it was soon understood by incoming refugees that joining the party was a fast- track route to relief . In ...
... religious views . Hizb - i Islami established an overpowering presence both in the camps and the aid distribution network , and it was soon understood by incoming refugees that joining the party was a fast- track route to relief . In ...
Contents
The Killing of Najibullah | 1 |
City of Night | 17 |
Warriors of God | 33 |
Copyright | |
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according Afghan Afghanistan Agence alliance announced appeared arms army Ashgabat Asia attack attempt August base become bin-Ladin bombing border called capital Central claimed close commanders continued December Dostum early East factions fall fear February fighting finally forces foreign former four further hands head Hekmatyar Herat Hizb-i Intelligence interests International interview Iran Islamabad Islamic Islamist January jihad July June Kabul Kandahar Khan killing later leaders lives March Massoud military million minister Mohammad Omar months movement mujahedin Mullah Mohammad Muslim November October operations Pakistan party Pashtun peace pipeline political position Post President programme province Rabbani region religious remained reported road rule Russia Saudi Arabia September Sharif Shia Soviet supply Tajik Taliban took trade troops turned United Wahdat Washington Western women