Ahmed Rashid is Pakistan's premiere journalist, an expert on Central Asia, on jihad and Muslim extremists movements, on the Taliban and Al Qaeda, on insurgency, and on the catastrophe of US policy in this region, on which he has reported for 25 years. Author of three books, his work Taliban was a huge international bestseller, widely recognised as the definitive account. He has personally met and interviewed many of the key players in Central Asia and has travelled extensively for this book. He writes regularly for The Daily Telegraph, The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, BBC Online and many other European and American dailies and websites.

'A journalist of the highest narrative and analytical gifts' - Max Hastings, Sunday Times 'Compulsively readable' - Justin Marozzi, Evening Standard 'Profound and lively ! it reads like a thriller ! graphic, detailed and worrying ' New Statesman 'Gripping ! a major contribution to understanding the region and the events of recent years ! thought-provoking and important' - Jason Burke, Observer 'His knowledge of events and people there is second to none and the information he has gathered, often at great personal risk, makes alarming reading' - Kim Sengupta, Independent

Ahmed Rashid is Pakistan's premiere journalist, an expert on Central Asia, on jihad and Muslim extremists movements, on the Taliban and Al Qaeda, on insurgency, and on the catastrophe of US policy in this region, on which he has reported for 25 years. Author of three books, his work Taliban was a huge international bestseller, widely recognised as the definitive account. He has personally met and interviewed many of the key players in Central Asia and has travelled extensively for this book. He writes regularly for The Daily Telegraph, The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, BBC Online and many other European and American dailies and websites.

'A journalist of the highest narrative and analytical gifts' - Max Hastings, Sunday Times 'Compulsively readable' - Justin Marozzi, Evening Standard 'Profound and lively ! it reads like a thriller ! graphic, detailed and worrying ' New Statesman 'Gripping ! a major contribution to understanding the region and the events of recent years ! thought-provoking and important' - Jason Burke, Observer 'His knowledge of events and people there is second to none and the information he has gathered, often at great personal risk, makes alarming reading' - Kim Sengupta, Independent