Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities (In 3 Volumes)

Located at the crossroads of Central, South and West Asia and sharing its borders with Central Asia on the north, Chinese province of Xinjiang in the East, Iran on the West and South West, and Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir on the South and South East, Afghanistan occupies a unique geo-strategic position in the region. During the past quarter century, Afghanistan has remained turbulent posing great challenges to peace and security in and around the region. The threat posed by the Taliban and Al Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden to world peace and security has been universally recognised. September 11, 2001 incident marked a new phase in contemporary Afghanistan. Notwithstanding the relentless reconstruction efforts in the country by the international community after the US-led war on terror, Afghanistan has been witnessing political instability and resurgence of Taliban. The rising narcotics cultivation, despite bans and eradication programmes sponsored by the UN and various international NGOs, has further aggravated the situation there. Even during the United Nations’ Decade against Drug Abuse (1991-2001), Afghanistan earned the mantle of being at the centre of the global narcotics trade. In this set of three books, the first one presents various perspectives on the Afghanistan crisis deliberating upon various issues ranging from ethno-politics, politics of access to Central Asian oil and gas, human rights, refugee situation, position of women, role and response of regional and extra-regional powers, rise of Taliban and its implications for peace and security in Central and South Asia. The second book analyses the post-9/11 developments in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, challenges to democratisation, peace and stability, problem of narcotics trafficking and resurgence of Taliban. The third book examines the extent and pattern of drugs trade in Afghanistan besides unravelling the close connection between the arms trade and drug money from the time of the Afghan Jihad till date. It gives an insight into the impact of arms-for-trade economy in Afghanistan upon both its immediate neighbours and other countries in the region. Eminent area specialists and Afghanistan experts from India, Australia, Central Asian Republics, Pakistan, and United States have contributed to this compact set which provides deep insight into the situation in Afghanistan covering the past two and a half decades in particular.