Introduction

The book explores the nature of conflict and attempts of re-creation of
the state of Afghanistan from political and historical perspectives, to find
out why and how Afghanistan has remained a conflict-prone country. It highlights the comprehensiveness of destruction in Afghanistan through different phases and records the social, political and economic consequences. More often than not Afghan conflicts are regarded to be
the consequence of the involvement of the external actors. This study attempts to establish that conflicts are endemic to the traditional Afghan system, conflicts are a daily reality that Afghans must address and external actors act as catalyst to this potential, exacerbating them beyond means of conflict management. Further by studying the sequence of events in the
country leading up to the Bonn Agreement, the book attempts to highlight the challenges the country now faces in terms of peace and
stability. It analyses the progress and pitfalls of the process within a theoretical framework of peace-building and finally, comes up with
suggestions in the forms of workable responses to the problem.


Located at a very significant geo-strategic position, Afghanistan is at the crossroads of a region which has always invited contest between
neighbours—the Central Asian Republics to the north, China and India to the east, Pakistan to the south and Iran to the west. Afghans have not
been strangers to foreign interventions. Since the 3rd century A.D., they have been invaded by the Arabs, Iranians, Turks and the Mongols. Czarist
Russia and imperial Britain played out a ‘Great Game’ of seeking ultimate control of the buffer lands of the Afghans. Afghans have also been
accustomed to power struggle amongst themselves in their own homeland and in the capital city of Kabul. Afghans have generally resisted radical reforms which they felt did not conform to their traditions and belief systems. For example, King Amanullah’s (1921-29) ambitious modernisation programme encountered waves of protests from the conservatives and clerics. However, it provided some solace to the Amir
(king) that his efforts were appreciated in the outside world and
Afghanistan was acknowledged as a worthy new member of the League of
Nations.


Introduction continues.....