AFGHANISTAN: Through the Fog of Instability

Category Politics
Format Paperback
Imprint Rupa
Price 795

ISBN: 978-93-5702-065-7
Pages: 304 pages
Date: 5th February 2023

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Afghanistan is a country that has seen more devastation than prosperity, especially in the last 20 years. The resurgence of the Taliban and its cat-and-mouse game with the West has brought the once lively nation on the brink of starvation and decline. And it’s not just the story of the present times. Even in the early nineteenth century—be it the three Anglo-Afghan wars, or the skirmish between Afghanistan and Pakistan surrounding the Durand Line—the nation has seen much more bloodshed than any other country in Asia. Today, with the government abandoning its people after the takeover by the Taliban along with the withdrawal of the US forces, Afghanistan has once again been told to fend for itself in the cruellest of ways.

In Afghanistan: Through the Fog of Instability, experts from various arenas of expertise including diplomacy, culture and security, have attempted to weave a tale of what Afghanistan was at one time, and how seedy forces had joined together to destroy the wellbeing of this nation. The book also covers the historical overview—from ancient times to the takeover by Taliban 2.0—that gives the readers a peek into how the country was at one point of time. With editor Lt Gen. R.K. Sawhney at the helm, the book makes a serious attempt in seeking answers to several problems plaguing the peace and security of this rather unfortunate country.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Lt Gen. R.K. Sawhney retired as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff. He is a post-graduate in
Defence from the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, prior to which he attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington and Long Defence Service Management Course at the College of Defence Management, India. During the Army service of approximately 40 years, he has held important positions in staff and command of different combat units and field formations.
He was involved in the conceptual development of strategies at senior levels as the director of Military Intelligence and was subsequently responsible for the overall coordination of the deployment of Indian Army troops at various UN missions as the deputy chief of Army Staff.

Post retirement, he was deputed by the Government of India to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, a country which he has visited many times since 2002. He is presently a Senior Fellow and Center Head for National Security and Strategic Studies, Neighbourhood Studies and Internal Security Studies in Vivekananda International Foundation, an important think tank in New Delhi, comprising retired senior officers of Armed Forces, diplomats, intelligence officers and civil servants.