Ahmed Rashid Knihy

Access to nuclear weapons, political instability, and deep-rooted economic and social issues have placed Pakistan in the global spotlight. General Pervez Musharraf, re-elected in 2002, is the first leader in three decades to confront the nation’s Islamic extremists. However, questions loom about his ability to control the very forces that contributed to the rise of the Taliban and the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. Can the military and intelligence agencies rein in the radical elements they once nurtured? This compelling history of Pakistan from 1947 onward delves into the societal fractures within the country. It examines the roles of nationalists in the provinces, feudal landlords in rural areas, and the bureaucratic elite in Islamabad, while also analyzing the intricate dynamics between religion, regional politics, and the military. As a BBC correspondent in Pakistan from 1998 to 2001, Bennett Jones provides firsthand accounts of critical events leading to Musharraf's rise, including the 1999 coup, the Kargil conflict, and the nation’s nuclear tests. This book is essential for anyone seeking to grasp the complexities of a country pivotal in the expulsion of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in the 1980s and a key partner in the U.S. war against terrorism post-9/11.

What does the future hold for the world's most unstable region? This title examines the changing casts of characters in this story, the future of the Taliban and international terrorism, and the political manoeuvring both within Pakistan and Afghanistan and among Western allies, offering a way forward for all countries involved.

'Descent Into Chaos' is an eye-opening account of the region where the next wave of Islamic terror is being born. Rashid gives a clear and devastating analysis of how the US has failed to bring peace in central Asia, and how that failure is coming back to haunt us.

Afghanistan's position as a crossroads in Central Asia made it part of the 19th-century Great Game of imperialism and brings it to international strategic prominence once again. Rashid is a correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review who has covered Afghanistan's changing fortunes since the 1978 Soviet invasion. In his second book, he covers the origin and rise of the Taliban, its concepts of Islam on questions of gender roles and drugs, and the importance of the country to the development of energy resources in the region.

Exploring a crucial and often neglected region of Islamic fundamentalism, this book offers a comprehensive analysis from the author of the "New York Times" bestseller "Taliban." It delves into the complexities and dynamics of the area, shedding light on its significance in the broader context of global Islamic movements. Through detailed research and insights, the author provides a deeper understanding of the ideological and social factors at play.