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Overview
Momentous changes have taken place in Afghanistan since the first edition of this Profile was published (Afghanistan: A Land in Shadow¸ Oxfam GB, 1998). Taliban extremists were tightening their grip on power, but the full implications of their regime were still to be seen, and the events of September 11th 2001, and their consequences for the people of Afghanistan, were as yet unimaginable. In this new edition, Chris Johnson brings the story up to date, examining the impact of international and regional power politics on the everyday lives of ordinary Afghans, in their struggle to survive and rebuild their country.
Chris Johnson is one of the few Western journalists currently living and working inside Afghanistan. Researching for this new edition of her book, she traveled widely to interview members of communities living on the edge of survival. The text is illustrated by her own dramatic photographs, and supplemented by an annotated list of resources and an up-dated file of facts and figures. It is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the prospects for peace in this war-weary country, and the implications for regional stability and - ultimately - for global security.
Synopsis
Presents a concise account of the historical and political background to the present situation in Afghanistan a country at the meeting-point of south, west, and central Asia. Because of its strategic position, Afghanistan became a setting for a proxy war between Russia and the Western powers during the 1980s. Since the withdrawal of Russian troops in 1989, and a consequent loss of interest on the part of Western countries, Afghanistan has seen the rise of local militia leaders, a slow disintegration of central government, and a descent into anarchy. More recently the Taliban, a strict and dogmatic Islamic force, have extended their power over most of the country. Afghanistan: A Land in Shadow examines how this history of war and armed resistance has affected the lives of ordinary people, and finds examples of how people are rebuilding their lives and maintaining the bonds of family and tradition, despite the suffering and poverty.