The presence of Osama Bin Laden and terrorist bases in Afghanistan brought the Taliban, the most radical and extremist Islamic movement in the world today, to the forefront of current events.

Little is known about the Taliban due to the extreme secrecy surrounding this organization, its leaders, and its goals. The Taliban have provoked mixed feelings of hatred, fear, or even admiration, both in the Muslim world and in the West.

The geostrategic significance of the Taliban's expansion has already created serious problems for Russia and Central Asia. The Taliban have become the most important player in the new 'Great Game' - following the Anglo-Russian conflict in the region at the end of the 19th century - which includes competition among Western oil companies, the political maneuvers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, as well as the covert actions of the CIA.

The price? Access to new oil-rich areas and the establishment of transit routes for oil pipelines, and, of course, the drug trade.

Ahmed Rashid, who has been reporting on Afghanistan since 1979, is one of the few international journalists who has interviewed Taliban leaders. This book sheds new light on a dark movement that seriously threatens global peace.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]