With this enormously insightful publication, correspondent Ahmed Rashid provides the shadowy globe of the Taliban, the world’s most great and radical Islamic firm, into clear focus. He explains the Taliban’s rise to power; its effect on Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Central Asia; its role in coal and oil organization decisions; and the consequences of changing American attitudes toward the Taliban. He also describes the brand new face of Islamic fundamentalism and explains why Afghanistan is just about the world center for worldwide terrorism.