The Forty-Year War in Afghanistan

The Forty-Year War in Afghanistan

The Forty-Year War in Afghanistan is a profound and historically significant title that highlights the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan. It suggests an in-depth exploration of the decades-long struggle involving various factions, international interventions, and the lasting impact on the nation and its people. The title conveys themes of war, resilience, and geopolitical complexities, making it suitable for a historical analysis, documentary, or book detailing the causes, key events, and consequences of the conflict. It promises a compelling narrative of endurance, strategy, and the ever-evolving nature of warfare in Afghanistan.

The occupation of Afghanistan is over, and a balance sheet can be drawn. These essays on war and peace in the region reveal Tariq Ali at his sharpest and most prescient.

Rarely has there been such an enthusiastic display of international unity as that which greeted the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Compared to Iraq, Afghanistan became the “good war.” But a stalemate ensued, and the Taliban waited out the NATO contingents. Today, with the collapse of the puppet regime in Kabul, what does the future hold for a traumatised Afghan people? Will China become the dominant influence in the country?

Tariq Ali has been following the wars in Afghanistan for forty years. He opposed Soviet military interven- tion in 1979, predicting disaster. He was also a fierce critic of its NATO sequel, Operation Enduring Freedom. In a series of trenchant commentaries, he has described the tragedies inflicted on Afghanistan, as well as the semi-Talibanisation and militarisation of neighbouring Pakistan. Most of his predictions have proved accurate. The Forty-Year War in Afghanistan: A Chronicle Foretold brings together the best of his writings and includes a new introduction.