Correspondent Ahmed Rashid brings the shadowy world of the Taliban the world’s most extreme and radical Islamic organization into sharp focus in this enormously insightful book. He offers the only authoritative account of the Taliban available to English language readers, explaining the Taliban’s rise to power, its impact on Afghanistan and the region, its role in oil and gas company decisions, and the effects of changing American attitudes toward the Taliban. He also describes the new face of Islamic fundamentalism and explains why Afghanistan has become the world center for international terrorism.

New to this updated edition of the #1 New York Times Bestseller with more than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide:

-How the Taliban has regained its strength

-How and why the Taliban has spread across Central Asia

-How the Taliban has helped Al’Qaida’s spread into Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East

-Why the Afghan people feel the United States is losing the war

- A major new introduction and an all-new final chapter

“A valuable and informative work.”-Richard Bernstein, New York Times on the first edition Richard Bernstein New York Times

“Virtually the only informed work on the men who, since 1994, have ruled almost all of Afghanistan An indispensable book.”-Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times Book Review on the first edition Steve Wasserman Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Rashid is Pakistan’s best and bravest reporter.”-Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair Christopher Hitchens Vanity Fair

“The standard work in English on the Taliban.”-Christopher de Bellaigue, New York Review of Books on the first edition Christopher de Bellaigue New York Review of Books