Logo

Synopsis Afghanistan has deep cultural, historical and strategic linkages with India. Political and strategic environment in the region have determined the character of its state building. Political developments in Afghanistan have great bearings on India's security and yet it has not acquired as much attention as it deserves. The recent inclusion of Afghanistan as the eighth member country of SAARC (South Asian Association of regional Cooperation) underlines its geopolitical importance and the changed strategic-political context that has made this possible. Despite being in India's neighborhood the country and its people have remained an enigma for most of the people of the world. There is a dearth of scholarship on politics of modern Afghanistan in our country despite the fact of ancient historical and cultural ties so much so that the early histories of the two countries were enmeshed with each other. There has been a tendency to view Afghanistan from the viewpoint of international power politics and its strategic implications. Internal political dynamics of Afghanistan has not acquired much focus in academic circles. The present study intends to fill the gap and focuses on internal political developments of the country and explores the process of its state building in its linkages with international politics. It hopes to bring out the lesser known facets of modern Afghanistan before the academia, general public and policy planners. The book further highlights the vital importance of the project of state building as crucial to regional security and peace in Afghanistan. It views the state in Afghanistan as a creation of strategic and power games as were played by the great powers in the region. The present phase of rebuilding of its state is very much linked to the changed internal and regional strategic environment following September 11, 2001 and that also sets in the limits of its political and economic reconstruction. It has analysed in depth the challenges before the task of state building in Afghanistan and expresses cautious optimism about its prospects.