In this book, Olivier Roy examines the history, ideology and structures
of the Afghan resistance. He argues that the forces opposing Marxist
rule of the country, though advocating a return to the basic tenets of
Islam, are far from reactionary or backward-looking. Indeed he sees an
Islamic revolution, advocating a modernisation of Afghan society, taking
place under the eyes of the Russian occupation forces, whose efforts to
contain it have so far served mainly to consolidate it. This penetrating
study charts the history of resistance to the present Afghan central
government and its Russian ally. The first five chapters deal with the
political, social and religious history of Afghanistan UP to 1978 and
later chapters are concerned with the organisation of resistance, the
parties involved and the differences between various groups, as well as
their relations with Pakistan.