"On September 11, 2001, the world looked in horror at one of the most nefarious acts of terrorism in history. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the murder of over 6,000 people seem to be the work of al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, who is supported by the Taliban. Providing crucial historical and social background to the turmoil that has long engulfed Afghanistan and contributed to the rise of this radically fundamentalist group, Neamatollah Nojumi provides a unique perspective on the horror." "Combining the discerning insights of a native Afghan with the detachment of a scholar, he looks at the history and politics of a country torn apart by external intervention and civil war as a way of understanding the road to 9/11." "Nojumi carefully traces how Afghanistan's internal divisions, based on ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences, have affected domestic political dynamics. He looks at the devastating effects of foreign involvement, whether through direct intervention or by supporting one or another faction. He shows how, as external backing reduced the need of military groups to draw on local support, the Taliban became more radical and authoritarian. The resilience of Afghanistan's communities was further undermined as villages were destroyed, the inhabitants became refugees, and the traditional politics of compromise were further replaced by Islamic fanaticism and a new generation of leaders cut off from conventional social and cultural foundations. The result was the rise of the Taliban."--BOOK JACKET.

Chronology of events -- Historical background -- The theory of mass mobilization -- Traditional political system -- The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan -- The phenomena of civil war in Afghanistan -- Zonal division of Afghanistan -- The Afghan mujahideen and mass mobilization -- The first phase of civil war -- The formation of a third movement -- Missing the only chance -- The rise of the Taliban -- The source of Taliban forces in Afghanistan -- Taliban tactics and strategies -- The political ideology of the Taliban -- The Taliban advance toward Mazar-e-Sharif -- The road into the future -- Afghanistan in the international system -- Epilogue: the Afghan connection to September 11.