The True Story of the Taliban Emirate and Insurgency, 1994–2021

The Taliban movement's lightning recapture of Afghanistan after a twenty-year American occupation confirmed its place as one of the world's most consequential insurgent groups as well as Islamist political actors. Yet to this day the Taliban remain one of the world's least understood regimes, their ultraconservative rule and military prowess coexisting with a demonstrated respect for justice under an unusual interpretation of Islamic law. In this book, the first of its kind in the English language to address the movement's history as both a governing and insurgent group, Ibrahim Moiz examines the Taliban's background, ascent to and fall from power, and long war against an international occupation spearheaded by the United States. The True Story of the Taliban examines the movement's internal and external politics, marked with portraits of key actors and their role in the movement. It places the Taliban firmly within the context of a decades-long Afghan war involving two invading superpowers and numerous internecine struggles, while also addressing the group's relations with foreign states and non-state actors. Brisk and incisive, The True Story of the Taliban uncovers one of the contemporary Muslim world's most shadowy, controversial, but important groups.