Publisher's Synopsis
The Taliban are a unique and complicated manifestation of the growth of radical Islam worldwide. Looking beyond the stereotypes, this text explores what they stand for and the factors leading to their rapid rise to miltary and political dominance over Afghanistan. It describes the continuing war in Afghanistan and examines the tortured dialogue with the Taliban on human rights issues and the impossible dilemmas faced by humanitarian agencies in Afghanistan. Finally, it discusses the international community's responsibility in such situations and how it should respond.
