The Return of the Taliban: Afghanistan after the Americans Left

Description

The first account of the new Taliban—showing who they are, what they want, and how they differ from their predecessors   Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, the Taliban have effective control of Afghanistan—a scenario few Western commentators anticipated. But after a twenty-year-long bitter war against the Republic of Afghanistan, reestablishing control is a complex procedure. What is the Taliban’s strategy now that they’ve returned to power?   In this groundbreaking new account, Hassan Abbas examines the resurgent Taliban as ruptures between moderates and the hardliners in power continue to widen. The group is now facing debilitating threats—from humanitarian crises to the Islamic State in Khorasan—but also engaging on the world stage, particularly with China and central Asian states. Making considered use of sources and contacts in the region, and offering profiles of major Taliban leaders, Return of the Taliban is the essential account of the movement as it develops and consolidates its grasp on Afghanistan. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Illustrations Introduction History Repeats Itself 1 The Road to Kabul The Secret Deal, the New Taliban and a House of Cards 2 From Insurgency to Governance Who’s Who in Afghanistan Today? 3 Taliban.gov Policies, Politics and Internal Rivalries 4 Deobandism, Islam and the Religious Narratives of the Taliban 5 Allies and Enemies of the Taliban The Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State in Khorasan (ISK) 6 The International Relations of the Taliban Conclusion The Future of the Taliban Appendix I List of Key Deputy Ministers, Heads of Departments, Governors and Military Commanders Appendix II Graduates of Darul Uloom Haqqania Holding Senior Official Positions in Afghanistan Appendix III Text of the “Decree of the Amir al-Mu’minin on Women’s Rights,” December 3, 2021 Notes Select Bibliography Acknowledgments Index