THE Real Face of the Taliban, written by senior journalist Saifullah Khalid, is the result of more than three decades of observation, field experience and engagement with developments in Afghanistan. The author’s association with investigative journalism began in 1991, while his connection with Afghanistan goes back to the period of the jihad against the Soviet Union.

Over the years, Khalid witnessed the Soviet withdrawal, the civil war among the Mujahideen, peace efforts, the emergence of the Taliban, their first administration, the American war and the current Taliban regime. This long exposure gives the book the depth of both an eyewitness account and a detailed research study.

The book goes beyond a general history of the Taliban. It examines the movement’s internal power structure, decision-making process, rival centres of authority and........

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