Taliban, Terrorism & the Unwinnable War in Afghanistan

This book investigates the nature and origin of the highly destructive conflict in Afghanistan, involving both civil and international war, which has been an ongoing feature of the country since the Soviet invasion of 1979. It examines the anti-Soviet struggle of the 1980s, the vicious civil war and emergence of the Taliban in the 1990s, as well as the 2001 US-led invasion, and the efforts of the international coalition to suppress the Taliban insurgency.

More than 30 years of conflict have had horrific effects on the lives of Afghanistan’s civilians, and taken a heavy toll on the forces involved in the fighting. But the consequences go much deeper. Therefore, the book also scrutinises the geographical impacts of the war, in terms of the resulting economic, social and environmental legacy for Afghanistan and the other players in the conflict.

It will be of relevance to teachers, students, and anyone else with an interest in national or international conflicts.