By S. Iftikhar Murshed

This first-hand account of Taliban rule in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 analyses the current situation in the country. The work is based on the author's experiences during his assignment as Pakistan's special envoy to Afghanistan with the mandate of bringing the Taliban and the Northern Alliance to the negotiating table. This entailed shuttle missions, at times life-threatening, between the warring factions. Featured are reports of the author's meetings with key Afghan leaders including Mulla Omar, Ahmed Shah Masood, Rashid Dostum and Burhanuddin Rabbani, but also portrayals of the cynical role played by Afghanistan's immediate neighbours as well as Russia, the US and the UN. Mushed explores the subject of terrorism and extremism in the name of religion while also providing a rare insight into the mindset of the regional leaders whose ambitions and personal animosities impeded any settlement for Afghanistan. Considering Afghanistan's short but violent history, the book concludes that only strong leadership can bring durable peace and stability to the country. This could have been provided by the Taliban under Mulla Omar, but the international community chose to isolate the Taliban. The need for a broad-based government was emphasized by all, yet the Bonn accords yielded a minority-based dispensation.

Published Date: 11/05/2007 Format: PaperBack ISBN: 1-898948-94-1 Publisher: n/a Rating: Retail price: Pound £ 9.99 (Rs. 1,247.85) Our price: Rs. 1,595.00 Reviews: 0 reivew(s).

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