Super Short Summary

In Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia, Ahmed Rashid chronicles the Taliban's rise in Afghanistan by exploring historical trends and geopolitical forces that contributed to their formation. Rashid, drawing from firsthand experiences, details the influence of earlier Islamic movements, Soviet invasion impacts, U.S. foreign policy, and Pakistan's support, while also examining the socio-economic conditions under Taliban rule, including the opium trade and oil politics. The book also includes intense descriptions of violence and human rights abuses.