Sir Martin Ewans was educated at St. Paul's School, London and Cambridge University. Joining the British Diplomatic Service, he was posted in Pakistan, Canada and Nigeria before becoming the Head of Chancery in Afghanistan. He later served in Tanzania and India, before becoming High Commissioner in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. He is currently Chairman of the international charity Children's Aid Direct.

'Recommended to the general reader as a clear, thoughtful and well-written account of the history of the modern Afghan state.' - Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society'The book written by Martin Ewans, former Head of the British Chancery in Kabul, will provide interesting information and insights for academics, researchers, students and general readers interested in history, politics and society of Afghanistan and Central Asia'. - Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos, The University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management

• List of Illustrations, List of Maps, Introduction: The Land and the People, 1 Early History, 2 The Emergence of the Afghan Kingdom, 3 The Rise of Dost Mohammed, 4 The First Anglo-Afghan War, 5 Dost Mohammed and Sher Ali, 6 The Second Anglo-Afghan War, 7 Abdur Rahman, The 'Iron Amir', 8 Habibullah and the Politics of Neutrality, 9 Amanullah and the Drive for Modernisation, 10 The Rule of the Brothers, 11 Daoud: The First Decade, 12 King Zahir and Cautious Constitutionalism, 13 The Return of Daoud and the Saur Revolution, 14 Khalq Rule and Soviet Invasion, 15 Occupation and Resistance, 16 Humiliation and Withdrawal, 17 Civil War, 18 Enter the Taliban, 19 The Taliban Regime, 20 OiC Drugs and International Terrorism, 21 The Fall of the Taliban, 22 The Future, Appendix: The Durrani Dynasty, Notes, Bibliography, Index

Sir Martin Ewans was educated at St. Paul's School, London and Cambridge University. Joining the British Diplomatic Service, he was posted in Pakistan, Canada and Nigeria before becoming the Head of Chancery in Afghanistan. He later served in Tanzania and India, before becoming High Commissioner in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. He is currently Chairman of the international charity Children's Aid Direct.

'Recommended to the general reader as a clear, thoughtful and well-written account of the history of the modern Afghan state.' - Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society'The book written by Martin Ewans, former Head of the British Chancery in Kabul, will provide interesting information and insights for academics, researchers, students and general readers interested in history, politics and society of Afghanistan and Central Asia'. - Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos, The University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management

• List of Illustrations, List of Maps, Introduction: The Land and the People, 1 Early History, 2 The Emergence of the Afghan Kingdom, 3 The Rise of Dost Mohammed, 4 The First Anglo-Afghan War, 5 Dost Mohammed and Sher Ali, 6 The Second Anglo-Afghan War, 7 Abdur Rahman, The 'Iron Amir', 8 Habibullah and the Politics of Neutrality, 9 Amanullah and the Drive for Modernisation, 10 The Rule of the Brothers, 11 Daoud: The First Decade, 12 King Zahir and Cautious Constitutionalism, 13 The Return of Daoud and the Saur Revolution, 14 Khalq Rule and Soviet Invasion, 15 Occupation and Resistance, 16 Humiliation and Withdrawal, 17 Civil War, 18 Enter the Taliban, 19 The Taliban Regime, 20 OiC Drugs and International Terrorism, 21 The Fall of the Taliban, 22 The Future, Appendix: The Durrani Dynasty, Notes, Bibliography, Index

Sir Martin Ewans was educated at St. Paul's School, London and Cambridge University. Joining the British Diplomatic Service, he was posted in Pakistan, Canada and Nigeria before becoming the Head of Chancery in Afghanistan. He later served in Tanzania and India, before becoming High Commissioner in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. He is currently Chairman of the international charity Children's Aid Direct.

'Recommended to the general reader as a clear, thoughtful and well-written account of the history of the modern Afghan state.' - Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society'The book written by Martin Ewans, former Head of the British Chancery in Kabul, will provide interesting information and insights for academics, researchers, students and general readers interested in history, politics and society of Afghanistan and Central Asia'. - Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos, The University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain, International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management

• List of Illustrations, List of Maps, Introduction: The Land and the People, 1 Early History, 2 The Emergence of the Afghan Kingdom, 3 The Rise of Dost Mohammed, 4 The First Anglo-Afghan War, 5 Dost Mohammed and Sher Ali, 6 The Second Anglo-Afghan War, 7 Abdur Rahman, The 'Iron Amir', 8 Habibullah and the Politics of Neutrality, 9 Amanullah and the Drive for Modernisation, 10 The Rule of the Brothers, 11 Daoud: The First Decade, 12 King Zahir and Cautious Constitutionalism, 13 The Return of Daoud and the Saur Revolution, 14 Khalq Rule and Soviet Invasion, 15 Occupation and Resistance, 16 Humiliation and Withdrawal, 17 Civil War, 18 Enter the Taliban, 19 The Taliban Regime, 20 OiC Drugs and International Terrorism, 21 The Fall of the Taliban, 22 The Future, Appendix: The Durrani Dynasty, Notes, Bibliography, Index