The Taliban and the modern history of Afghanistan

This chapter identifies the challenges facing Afghanistan, with a particular emphasis on the post-2001 period. It focuses on the key themes of the conflict, specifically insurgency, terrorism, narcotics, governance, and security. It also includes an analysis of the Taliban, the organization whose association with international terrorists provoked Western military intervention and has driven Afghanistan’s insurgency ever since. The chapter argues that Afghanistan is a case study of the consequences of both state collapse and uninhibited state power.