The Taliban Phenomenon: Afghanistan 1994-1997 [Paperback]

Kamal Matinuddin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195792742 | ISBN-13: 978-0195792744 | Publication Date: February 3, 2000

Kamal Matinuddin analyzes the origin, aims and objectives of the Taliban movement, examining the reasons for their phenomenal success, and explaining clearly the repercussions of an ultra-religious regime in Kabul on the security of Pakistan and its neighbors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`The author provides a detailed account of the origin of the Taliban movement......the author's use of empirical sources is generous, skilful and correct. Matinuddin must also be commended for his neutral and dispassionate tone......his account of the Taliban makes balanced, unbiased and highly informative reading.' The Herald Annual

`The book provides a well-written and systematic account of the historical genesis of the Taliban movement.' The News

The authour has expertly focused attention on the future, for Afganistan, for Pakistan and for the region as a whole .... Within the given restraints this is a excellent piece of researched work, lucidley written, frankly analyzed and boldly projected into the future. DAWN 21/02/99 General Khalid Mahmud Arif.

Kamal Matinuddin has done an excellent job in selecting the Taliban phenomenon for a definitive study and reduce the arcane and the mysterious surrounding it to the level of the credible and the verifiable. Out of the available scattered bits and pieces, the author has been able to produce an impressively comprehensive account for the future historian to benefit from. - A.R.Siddiqi - The Nation 14.4.99

The Taliban Phenomenon, besides being a monograph, is also a multidimensional study of the Afghan psyche and history as an intricate record of mutual infighting and betrayals, of shifting loyalties and alliances. Kamal Matinuddin (reviewer) The Nation 7/4/99

`the book will be useful for serious readers and students of international affairs ... the author has described the operational aspects of the Taliban Phenomenon 'with a precision and coherence that has been lacking in reports so far available to the public.'' Dr Afzal Mirza, The Nation on Sunday, 30/5/99

About the Author

Kamal Matinuddin is at Quaid-i-Azam University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195792742
• ISBN-13: 978-0195792744
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,088,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Here Today Gone Tomorrow, May 20, 2004

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Taliban Phenomenon: Afghanistan 1994-1997 (Paperback)

I found this book in a used book store for just a few dollars and thought it would be worth that just get gather a better understanding of this part of the world pre 9-11. It turned out that the book is worth about what I paid for it. The book gives the reader an interesting and adequate review of the Taliban take over of Afghanistan. The book gives the reader a brief, but well thought out history of Afghanistan before the 90's. The author then covers the Taliban incubation and eventual take over of the country. What I found so interesting was the almost haphazard way that Mullah Omar created the movement and lead it. You got the impression from the book that he was as absent from the day to day command of the troops and government functions as would say the Secretary of Defense be involved in a German Base janitorial staff vacation scheduling.

When the book covered the military of all parties involved in the country it almost sounded like a historical overview of USSR equipment from World War 2 to about 1990. You got to give the Afghani's credit for keeping World War 2 tanks battle ready. If there is ever any evidence needed to support the argument that all it takes to cause a military issue is a few guys with automatic weapons, the Taliban movement is it. As far as the great military victory in 2001 of the Northern Alliance, this book might shed some light on the Afgan military strategy. It looked to me like basically all you need to do to be successful in Afghanistan is to fire a few rounds into the air and start handing out bribes. The author described the whole country as nothing more then small groups of bandits that will fight for who ever hands out the largest payments. One other interesting point is that Osama Bin Laden in mentioned a few times in the book, but is basically viewed as an anti Saudi rich guy hanging out.

It was not so much that the book was not complete, I just think any more and the book would have fallen into a serious study of Afghanistan history that would appeal to a small hand full of people. On the other hand it did not seam to give more then a brief overview of any one particular topic. Overall I enjoyed the book and found it interesting, but only because of recent history. It does spend a good amount of time talking about the politics in the region around Afghanistan, which is a good primer for the current international environment and the war on terror. If you are interested in the topic it is a good general book, if you want an in depth study then this book is probably not for you.

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Too Wordy, May 9, 2000

By 

Wrighty (Ottawa, Can) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Taliban Phenomenon: Afghanistan 1994-1997 (Paperback)

There is no doubt the author has compiled a vast amount of information in making this book. Unfortunately a lot of information doesn't translate into a very interesting read. If you are looking for serious in depth information on the Taliban history, and future this is definately the book for you. If on the other hand you are looking for interesting material in a quick and easy fashion as I was you will be disappointed.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Taliban, May 7, 2000

By 

LeLiAjAaN (Sac, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Taliban Phenomenon: Afghanistan 1994-1997 (Paperback)

The book is mostly on the sucess of the Taliban in Afghanistan. It talks about the regime, and what they have done to acheive their goals, and why they are trying to achieve the unity of Afghanistan. It aslo focuses on the former capitol Kabul, and the destruction of the famous city. Afghanistan neighbors such as PAkistan, and Iran...how are they helping the Talibans if and any, and why?