Book Review: The Return Of The Taliban Afghanistan After The US Left

Summary of the Book

The book “The Return of the Taliban” tells the story of how the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021. It emphasizes the events leading up to the signing of the Doha Agreement. The book also covers the events that followed the deal. Additionally, it explores the various challenges the Afghan Taliban face in the post-withdrawal phase. These challenges range from a crippling economy to the threat of ISKP. It is a fascinating account about the rivalries that have grappled the Afghan Taliban internally since long.

It is an instructive recital about “who is who” (ideologically) among the ranks and files of the Afghan Taliban.

Last but not least, the book enumerates how the Taliban has evolved from their first stint in power in the 1990s. It especially focuses on their engagement with the outside world.

Strengths of the Book

The book has several strengths that make it unique in its own right. The first strength of “The Return of the Taliban” lies in the sources the author consulted. Hassan Abbas is well cognizant of the importance of sources in non-fictional and scholarly work. He has extensively consulted a wide range of primary sources. These include interviews with key officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States. The high-ranking officials he interviewed include officers from the upper echelons of the Pakistan army and ISI, Afghan Taliban officials, and US diplomats. These individuals possessed first-hand knowledge of the ground realities about the subject matter of the book.

Another notable strength of the book is its ability to provide a balance account of the subjects that have been discussed in it.

In contrast to the common perception, mostly popularized by those who have not read the book, it is not entirely negative about the Afghan Taliban. A careful reading reveals that the book presents a balanced account of the group. The author has highlighted the dark side of the Afghan Taliban on several occasions. However, following the principle of “give credit where it is due,” the author has also expressed appreciation for certain aspects of the Taliban. For instance, while discussing the moral corruption of the former chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the author has also acknowledged the moral integrity of Mullah Omar and the incumbent chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Also See: The Taliban Recognition Conundrum

Weaknesses of the Book

Like any other book, “The Return of the Taliban” exhibits a few weaknesses. Readers must consider these weaknesses alongside its strengths.

One notable weakness is related to the inclusion of several stories that cannot be corroborated or verified independently as these stories have been narrated from anonymous sources.

In the introduction of the book, Hassan claims that after the Doha peace deal, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani became quite conspiratorial. Hassan reveals that Ghani was convinced his political adversaries were colluding to remove him from office. These adversaries included former president Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah, and Zalmay Khalilzad. Ghani believed they were facilitating the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul, with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as their supreme leader. To preempt their plan, Ghani shared critical security information with rival Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. This enabled Haqqani’s faction to enter Kabul ahead of the others. Another weakness of the book is pertaining to the style in which it has been written. It sounds more like a journalistic book rather than an academic one.

Conclusion

Despite the weaknesses of the book discussed above, it provides a valuable insight into the post-withdrawal Afghanistan. Hassan Abbas’ “The Return of the Taliban” is indeed a significant addition to the existing corpus of knowledge on Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. While acknowledging its limitations, the book is an important resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Afghanistan under the rule of the Afghan Taliban.