BOOK REVIEW Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlords RASHID, A. (2001). Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlords, Pan MacMillan. AMIT KUMAR** Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. DR. VEENA RAMACHANDRAN*** Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. TALIBAN: THE STORY OF THE AFGHAN Warlords is a comprehensive examination of the rise of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan and the impact it has had on the country and the region. The book, written by Ahmed Rashid, offers a thorough explanation of the historical, political, and cultural causes that contributed to the development of the Taliban and the events that occurred after its ascent to power. The book acquired recog- nition after the 9/11 attacks. The significance of this book may be appreciated from a Guardian article that claims Tony Blair’s plans for Afghanistan after the Taliban were greatly inspired by it. Alastair Campbell, Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy, and Anji Hunter, Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister, were also counselled to read before planning an expedition in Afghanistan. * Amit Kumar is a PhD candidate at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. ** Dr. Veena Ramachandran is an Assistant Professor at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. She is Amit Kumar's Ph.D. supervisor. 90 How to cite: Kumar, A. Ramachandran, V. (2023). Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlords. [Review of the book Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlords, Rashid, A.] BRIQ Belt & Road Initiative, 5(1), 90-92. BOOK REVIEW Although the book was first published ligious students in the southern region of in 2001, it offers valuable insights into the Kandahar. Rashid recounts how the Tali- origins and ideologies of the Taliban. By ban were first viewed as a good force that examining the group’s roots, the book helps would provide stability to a nation that readers grasp the factors that have sustai- had been destroyed by years of civil strife. ned the Taliban’s influence and resilien- Nevertheless, as the Taliban grew in stren- ce over the years, even beyond the initial gth, it became evident that their goals were publication date. It explores the complex far more sinister and that their tyrannical relationships between Afghan warlords, regime posed a threat not just to Afgha- regional powers, and international actors. nistan but also to the stability of the whole This context is crucial for understanding region. Rashid’s vivid account of the events the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and its is seen by how meticulously he discusses implications. each significant province that the Taliban captured, starting with the consolidation of Kandahar and moving on to the takeo- Rashid’s ability to link the emergence of the Taliban to the larger context of the region and the world is one of Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlord’s strong points. ver of Herat in 1995, then Kabul in 1996, Mazar-e-Sharif in 1997, and finally Bamiyan in 1998-99. Rashid’s ability to link the emergence of the Taliban to the larger context of the region and the world is one of Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlord’s strong points. He demonstrates how the continuous conflict in the Middle East had an impact The importance of reviewing books like on the Taliban’s beliefs and strategies, and “Taliban: The Story of the Afghan Warlor- how the assistance it gained from nearby ds” lies in its ability to contribute to public nations like Pakistan helped it gain power. discourse and awareness. Reviews evalu- The theology of Islam practised by the Tali- ate the book’s content, helping potential ban has been greatly influenced by Pakistan. readers determine its value and relevance. Although the Taliban practice an extreme Additionally, reviews facilitate conversati- version of Islam, Pashtun tribal values are ons and debates around the issues the book clearly present. The integration of Afghan addresses, allowing for a deeper unders- refugees into Jamiat-e Ulema-i Islam-run tanding of the Taliban since its inception. madrassas in Pakistan gives this blending of The Taliban were first identified in the book’s introduction as a small group of re- Islamic principles and Pashtun tribal beliefs a distinctive twist. 91 BOOK REVIEW As a result, neither the modern Deobandi Sheikhs nor the practical customs of everyday Afghan rural life support the Islam of the Taliban. This clarifies how the Taliban could carry out actions that now would be unimaginable, such as beating women in the streets and stoning them to death for adultery, among other things. Rashid does not hold back in bringing up the numerous crimes against humanity done by the Taliban government, such as the pervasive repression of women’s rights, rape, kidnapping, and disappearance of children. He continues by explaining how, while heroin temporarily supports the Taliban’s economy, it eventually kills its own citizens and causes drug addiction in the Afghan culture. Rashid also offers a thorough account of the role that the international community, especially the United States and its allies, played in the formation of the Taliban and the subsequent events. Rashid describes the Taliban’s military and political structure as being exceedingly mysterious and enigmatic. The decision-making process, in his opinion, is highly covert. He also talks about how the Taliban’s little knowledge of foreign affairs and commerce made it impossible for them to reach agreements with significant oil companies like UNOCAL and Delta Oil. The likelihood of building oil and gas pipelines was further diminished by the lack of a united military organization for improved security infrastructure. Rashid’s examination of the connections between the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other global extremist organizations is one of the book’s most remarkable features. He demonstrates how the Taliban’s strong associations with these organizations have made it a target for the interna- 92 tional community and how its ongoing support for these organizations has rendered it a danger to world security. He also makes it abundantly evident that the Taliban is not a singular organization and that its leaders and participants are a heterogeneous bunch with a range of reasons and viewpoints. With the United States withdrawing its boots from Afghan Soil and Taliban capturing back Kabul in August 2021, this book is crucial for comparing the present events surrounding the Taliban and its strategy for coping with its legitimacy issue with that of its initial ascent and conquest of Kabul in September 1996. With Afghanistan completing one big circle, today it stands where it stood 20 years back. However, this time evidently they seem to be different than earlier in many aspects of Afghan management. This book brings life to the events surrounding Taliban. Afghanistan has now come full circle, standing where it did 20 years ago. Nonetheless, it appears that this time they have changed significantly from previously in many elements of administering a government. The events surrounding Taliban are brought to life in this novel. Rashid writes with clarity, succinctness, and interest, and his analysis is perceptive and thought-provoking. The book offers a thorough description of the circumstances surrounding the Taliban’s ascent to power, their brief administration of Afghan affairs, and the influence they have had on the region, making it an invaluable resource to gain a deeper understanding of this complex and challenging issue. This book is a must-read for anybody interested in this significant problem, whether they are students, professionals, or just general readers.